in uniform black or white or a mix of contemporary and vintage) or a single large colourful board to pin pictures upon makes an effective and adaptable display. The real difficulty starts when you have to select your favourites for display. Involve each

1 Find your energySuccess does not come knocking at the door. We all need to go out and find areas in which we can experience success. Finding something your child is good at builds confidence. Some children may not be good at the things they spend

. An important consideration when taking your baby swimming is that the water is warm enough. It needs to be at least 32ºC for babies of three months and under or weighing less than 5.5kg; and 30ºC plus for a baby beyond that. It’s horrible seeing your baby

.Talk about itGood listening skills are essential. Sit down and chat during the day, so it’s not odd to talk about your child’s worries.Look for tell-tale signsSome children won’t want to let on what they are afraid of, in case it worries you. Sleeplessness

babies (from around eight months) to create their own, very satisfying vertical movement. These bouncers strengthen leg muscles and help babies learn new motor rhythm which they might not otherwise explore.4. Incorporate a daily buggy ride into your baby

1 Dress up Create a dress-up box. A doctor, a dragon or Darth Vader… pretending to be something or someone else will let your child’s imagination run riot.2 Stimulate sensesYour child will love exploring different textures and scents. Gather leaves

While you may envy your toddler’s ability to live in the moment, a little bit of future planning can ensure she finds the balance between spontaneous spender and prudent piggy-banker with ease in later life.Children as young as eight can now get

and sure to make your child's bedroom the envy of all your neighbours!

Is it a rocking horse? Is it a rocking rabbit? Is it a motorbike? The Constantin rocker by Thomas Maitz can be all of the above – with a little imagination, and the addition of fun play shapes that adhere to its fuzzy hide/fur/body.

Poster Paints £2.49 for six, Rainbow Block £3.99, Chubbybrush £1.25 each all by Galt