and help her develop a caring and thoughtful nature that will be appreciated by friends.* Encourage your child take turns on the slide or swing at the park. Encourage her to show empathy to console someone who has hurt themselves, just as you 'model

If your child is really struggling with reading, there may be a specific problem. Reading difficulties occur on a continuum - there is a wide range of children who experience reading difficulties, from those with a learning disability to those

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (Puffin, £5.99)Not many children’s books achieve worldwide sales that would humble a U2 album, but Eric Carle’s classic picture book about a caterpillar munching his way to becoming a beautiful butterfly has sold 22 million copies.Carle h...

1. DJ and disco Give your child the run of the CDs for the day and have her put together a playlist for a disco. Ask her to make decorations and name the event, then set a time when she will play DJ (with Dad’s help) while you take to the dance

1. Collect nuts, berries and pinecones to look for signs of feeding. Follow any trails of food and try to identify which animals have been nibbling on them.2. Find a quiet spot in your local woodland to sit and listen to the sounds of the local

your child’s bedtime worries with the story of Plop, the baby owl who discovers that the dark he once feared can be fun, exciting and magical. Age 3+

From learning language, imparting life lessons and strengthening family bonds, reading holds a wealth of brilliant benefits for your child. Here at Junior, we have long been champions of the developmental potential of the written word, so whether

http://www.madeformums.com/cl.asp?cn=648Keep it simple with babies“Choose books with simple images and text – remember you are buying the book for your baby, not for yourself” says Rod Campbell, author of Dear Zoo. “Point to objects and say

across the London Eye.* The Snowman And The Snowdog airs on Christmas Eve at 8pm on Channel 4. Set your timers and get your tissues at the ready now!See how the pictureless masterpiece The Snowman by Raymond Briggs rated in our Junior Top 100 Children

Helping your child learn to share your love of the written word is a satisfying task, and one that will help build bonds between you. But whilst hearing your child read her first word will make any parent brim with pride, should you be the one who