Created by four fathers, the Bloom philosophy is to fuse aesthetics and functionality. So it comes as no surprise that the Otto Play Table is easy on the eye, but also has sliding art and play tables at either end and handy wipe-clean surfaces

by tipping in a few plastic sharks, ducks, fairies, or whatever your child enjoys. And if there’s a handy sandpit ‘island’ nearby, so much the better.School-age childrenTo play hosepipe tag, the child who’s It squirts another with water. That child then has

Beneath its curved design, the Clexo Play Table by Timkid is a superbly practical children’s desk. Made from beech and birch plywood, there’s a footrest, washable seat (in red, shown, blue or black) and a tilted table top with two cup holders. £225

Part of Normann Copenhagen’s New Danish Modern furniture collection, the Play range is stylishly handmade in varnished beech. The series offers a vibrant approach to children’s furniture and includes a table (£300), bench (£250), chair (£210

Playing to their strengths as purveyors of fine educational books for babies and toddlers (and making excellent use of their rich archive of photographic material), this clever early learning app from Dorling Kindersley brings a varied vocabulary

is puzzled because the learned association is not followed through.Toys are to babies what work is to adults. Without play, a child would not thrive in the way that without work most grown-ups would not. Perhaps most importantly, for a baby to play with a toy

Egg rollingEach player has a hard-boiled egg identified by its colour, decoration or a felt-tip-penned initial (decorating can be another day’s activity). Then, to play, just stand at the top of a hill and roll. The fastest to the bottom

1 Set reasonable rulesLet children know when and where superhero play is allowed. Give safe limits, such as “Only in the garden” and “No jumping off the shed”.2 Encourage the creative aspectsHelp your child make her own superhero costumes rather

Soneva Kiri, Koh Hood, ThailandThe children’s den at Soneva Kiri resort in Koh Kood, Thailand, is the ultimate adventure playground. Positioned among the treetops, the bamboo-framed structure houses a music room with traditional Thai instruments, an art room and a library.The res...

An iconic design since 1966, the jewel-like colours of the 48 play pieces catch the light and can be transformed into anything!PlayPlax from £16, by Portobello Games