1. SortingGather a collection of small objects such as buttons, pennies or paper clips and ask your child to sort them into piles.2. DressingLet your child help to get herself dressed in the mornings – clothing fastenings like poppers, zips, buttons and ties will all test her dex...

Older babies and toddlers have an uncanny ability to undress themselves, whipping off shoes, socks or headgear at - well, the drop of a hat; but it takes much more skill and co-ordination for a child to get dressed independently.WhenFrom around 15

of your child will be actively connecting with each other, forming networks and facilitating the learning of skills and information. Repetition, in particular can assist with this as hearing something several times is the best way for a toddler to learn

Sharing is not something that comes naturally to young children, but it is an important social skill that they will need to master to make friends. As with most skills, your job is to offer gentle guidance, encouragement and praise. Here are a few

1. Jump and hop  Make two circles with two pieces of string – a big circle with a longer piece and a small circle with the shorter piece. Then show your child how to jump up and down inside the bigger circle, then do the same for the small circle. Count each complete jump or chan...

, this is not only a fascinating mental exercise, it also hones those crucial hand-eye coordination skills. “Babies only start to coordinate their hands with what they see around them at about six months of age,” explains Blair. “Soon, he will make the connection

THERE ARE SOME things in life that just go together. Like fish and chips. Laurel and Hardy. Toddlers and puddles. And the moment, your toddler spies that tantalizing pool of water, there’s something in his psyche that urges him to make a splash

, too. I remember watching my husband mow the lawn whilst Felix trotted alongside him, also ‘mowing’ with his green plastic wheelbarrow. But why do toddlers so love to copy us? Well, copying teaches toddlers a vast array of skills. “Imitation is vital

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

’t appear until they can understand make-believe from about 18 months. But for many parents evidence abounds that babies are keen to join the comedy club. More baby and toddler tips from Junior:How to improve your child's fine motor skillsHow to have fun