1 Use props Tempt your baby with a new bath toy – it is a great way to entice her into the water.2 Share a bathAsk your partner to hold her while you play in the bath with her toys. She will forget her fears and want to join you. 3 Hold off

1 Set age-appropriate rulesA two-year-old may not yet be able to chew with her mouth closed, but a four-year-old certainly should. 2 Set an exampleYou can’t expect politeness if you are not polite yourself, so keep saying “please” and “thank you”.3

Young children love to imitate adults with imaginative games, providing an opportunity for smart parents to impart some simple life skills. When your child sets up shop in your kitchen and offers to sell you the contents of your refrigerator, try

1 Sweep the floor Forget the thick wall-to-wall carpet. It’s much healthier to opt for natural flooring, such as linoleum or sustainable wood, bamboo or cork. 2 Choose natural materials Young, sensitive skin deserves gentle, untreated fabrics

Lead by exampleToddlers are renowned for their sponge-like ability to soak up the words, actions and behaviour they witness and then test it out on others. Try to avoid talking negatively about other people or using insulting language in front of your child; treating people with ...

is prone to the odd tantrum.While is it a rare parent who manages to raise a toddler without the odd mid-supermarket meltdown, there are a few simple techniques you can use to defuse outbursts of temper and encourage less-than disorderly conduct

1 Get involvedThe school’s PTA is your best chance to ask teachers if recycling is encouraged in your child’s classroom.2 Organise an eco fair It’s a great way to get children thinking about green issues and can include demonstrations of recycling

■ There’s no need to wash your tiny baby’s hair with shampoo. Holding her securely, place your hand firmly behind her head and, making lots of reassuring eye-to-eye contact, rinse her scalp with warm water. ■  Try a shampoo that is specifically aimed at children’s hair, most of w...

Make a game in your family of doing secret things to help others, then have a meeting once a week to discuss what you have done to help a teacher, school friend, sibling, parent or neighbour.Send a letter or get well soon card to a child suffering

is struggling and ask for help.5 Imagine foreverIn 1968, scientist George Land gave 1,600 five-year-olds a creativity test used by NASA to select innovative engineers and scientists. Ninety eight per cent scored at what he described as “genius”’ level. He