manipulating objects the better. Drawing pictures and holding cutlery will help.3 Pinpoint problem areas Whether it’s letter formation, sizing or spacing, get your child to focus on areas he is struggling with.4 Tool up Regular pencils can be tricky for tiny

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

■ Bin bags Aside from encouraging you to dispose of your rubbish responsibly, you can sit on them if the grass is wet; use them to protect or store your clothes or create an impromptu fancy-dress outfit. Penguin suit anyone?■ Chocolate Ideal when

saucepan.Slowly cook the mixture over a low heat until fully combined and thickened to a firm texture.Remove the mixture from the heat and allow to cool.Now enjoy squashing and sculpting the dough with your child!

as they get older. When your child finds an empty shell on the beach, it is because the mollusc that lived inside has died, and the discarded shell has been washed up with the tides. So we are not causing any harm to an animal when we pick up an empty shell

Jolly Phonics Jolly Readers, Jolly Learning Books, £18.60 for 18 Inky Mouse and her friends Snake and Bee guide your child through simple adventures. These 72 books have a general fiction strand, featuring folk from fairytales, like the Three Billy

Families seeking a breath of fresh air should head for The Forge in Camden on February 4, where the regular farmer's market will be offering a selection of delicious local foods as well as an afternoon of gardening activities for all ages.Green fingered children can hone their ho...

 Wayfarer shades by Ray-Ban  £58 at Step2wo

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...

Reading regularly with children can dramatically reduce disruptive behaviour, according to a study carried out at eight primary schools in the London borough of Lambeth by the Institute of Psychiatry. The key to the scheme wasn't reading in itself, but the amount of time parents ...