by Tootsa McGinty and très chic wooden toys by French brand Janod.We can almost hear those sleigh bells now...Don't miss... Find out how Steiff, Bonnie Baby and P'Kolino fared in the Junior Design Awards 2012

friend still appearing to be the hit of the season. Popular colours are natural and warm in tone, with the addition of purple and green tartan accessories in some homeware. Robots are still making an appearance in toys, this time seen as a sweet dispenser

  testosterone, leading them to prefer louder, less subtle toys. Children generally know whether they are a boy or a girl around the age of two, but don’t grasp the fact that their gender is permanent at this age. The two-year mark also sees both sexes demonstrating

mouths when teething, so provide teething toys to chew on to relieve the pain.Biting is often a way of expressing frustration. Help give your child the words to express his feelings instead of using his teeth, such as, “You’re angry because you want

Slip and slideSo easy to do and guaranteed many laughs. Go to your local hardware store and get a heavy-duty plastic tarpaulin that folds out lengthwise. Find a small grassy hill and stake the tarpaulin down on both corners at both ends. Pour on some water from a bucket, ready fo...

Devised by über-enthusiastic (and aptly-named) history teacher Harry Hastings, History Heroes is a card game that aims to educate, and excite, children about that great institution – the British monarchy. History, exciting? If your memories of school history lessons consist of...

toy manufacturer Schleich.7. A 2005 UNICEF advertisement showing the destruction of the Smurf village by warplanes was only shown post-watershed to avoid causing upset to young fans.8. Evidence suggests that all of the male Smurfs are totally bald

to make the shapes for the feet.7 Sit your owl on a breadstick tree branch to finish.Funky Lunch by Mark Northeast is published by Absolute Press, £7.99.Love owls? Check out these gorgeous owl toys and goodies and beautiful owl interiors.And for more funky

she opens her presents. Tell her to smile, say thank you, and then you can return the toy later.5 Praise good mannersPraise her when she is polite and if you need to correct a slip in her manners, try to do so in private.More development tips by Junior

Encourage a culture of giving in your house by encouraging your child, each time she receives a present or new toy, to give one away to a local charity shop or even to a friend who might enjoy playing with it.More parent skills from Junior:Lifeskills: Looking