When is it safe for children to help cook? My son of 2yrs 4mths always wants to help me. When will it be safe for my children to cook with me? Sophie is 13 months and Ben is 2 years 4 months. They are always wanting to “help” in the kitchen, but I am worried about them having accidents. Deciding when children are ready to help in the kitchen really depends on what you are doing. Some everyday tasks, such as peeling and slicing, are beyond them, but there are plenty of things they can do. Ben can fetch vegetables and dry ingredients for you, if they are stored in…

How do I provide messy art play at home for my 2 year old? We have recently moved to the country. I have tried in vain to look for an art group suitable for my two-year-old daughter. In her previous class, she loved painting and sticking, and I had none of the mess to cope with. I know I should allow some of these activities at home, but I don’t know how to go about providing for them without spending a lot of money on materials. Apart from enjoying herself, is it important for her development that she has these kinds of activities now? The thought of providing for messy…

How can I help my three-year-old learn to use scissors? My three-year old becomes very frustrated when using scissors. She usually ends up with torn paper. How can I help her? Using scissors is a skill some children find hard to master, as the blades must be at a 45 degree angle to the paper to cut efficiently. Many children of this age enjoy cutting for its own sake. To help them master this skill prepare some cutting strips. Use round-ended metal bladed scissors rather than plastic ones. By three you may be aware that your child is left-handed. If you think she is, left handed scissors can be bought…

How do I teach my daughter of 2.5 yrs the alphabet? Is two-and-a-half too young to learn the alphabet? My daughter is interested in the letters in her books. Learning to recite ABC is only one part of understanding how letters work. Teaching your daughter that each letter has a sound will prepare her for learning to read in the future. Use an ABC book with simple clear pictures reading it with letter sounds rather than names. By all means teach her the order of the alphabet; there are several songs which do just this. Knowing the order of the letters will be important in the future too. How else…

I am expecting my second baby in six weeks time. My older son, Fred, is two and a half, and has been attending nursery since September. We have talked to him about the baby constantly, but he never shows much interest, and I am concerned about how he will react when the baby arrives. He has been the centre of our universe since he was born, and while in every respect he is a contented little chap, I do worry that he doesn’t cope well with change. For instance, he loves nursery now, but it did take three to four weeks for him to settle down. Having a second baby…