Development

Learning to talk: The 25 words all two-year-olds should know

By Kelly Rose Bradford, Feb 20, 2012

Delegates at the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s annual conference in Vancouver have been told there are twenty five words that every toddler should be using by the age of two.

Boys to men: Why do boys have to 'toughen up'?

By parentdish.co.uk, Feb 12, 2012

I was in the local playground recently with my five-year-old son when I noticed a small group of older boys gathered next to the big climbing frame. Luca noticed too, and dragged me over to investigate.

Leap year babies: My four-year-old twins will be celebrating their first birthday

By Emily Carlisle, Feb 11, 2012

My twin daughters are four years old but this month they will celebrate their very first birthday. The girls are 'leaplings' – people born on February 29, a day which happens only once every four years.

Kids' television: What did YOUR parents ban?

By Kelly Rose Bradford, Feb 8, 2012

Poor Peppa Pig. Just like a legion of seemingly innocuous TV characters before her, she has been blamed for the degeneration of children's behaviour with her porcine peccadilloes and wanton ways.

Model behaviour: Behind the scenes of a Mothercare photo shoot

By Liz Stansfield, Jan 30, 2012

Find out what it’s like to be involved in baby and mum modelling with this Mothercare photo shoot video

The Potty List: 36 things your child 'must do' by the age of three

By Keith Kendrick, Jan 11, 2012

You’ve heard of a Bucket List – now welcome to the Potty List. A survey of 1,000 mums has drawn up a list of 36 “must-do’s” for toddlers.

Girl with autism talks for the first time ever after starring in dance DVD

By Keith Kendrick, Dec 8, 2011

An autistic girl who couldn’t speak can now hold conversations after starring in a dance DVD.

£5 for a tooth! Don't tooth fairies know we are in a recession?

By Keith Kendrick, Nov 9, 2011

About a year ago, when my son was six, I found him tying some cotton thread to the knob of his bedroom door. For a minute or so, I watched as he attempted to wrap the other end around one of his front teeth.

Why I won't lie to my children about sex

By Emily Carlisle, Oct 7, 2011

My daughter proudly announced recently to her pre-school class that babies came out of mummies' vaginas. I know this only because I was taken to one side by another mother, who disapproved strongly of such brazen honesty.

How football helped my son's school work

By Jackie Cosh, Oct 5, 2011

I'm not into football. In fact I would go as far as to say watching it bores me. But ever since the World Cup last year I have been very grateful for the place it has in my six-year-old son's life. And I'm sure his teacher is too.

Is SpongeBob SquarePants destroying our children's memories?

By Kyrsty Hazell, Sep 13, 2011

Fans of the wacky yellow sea sponge Bob and his trusty marine sidekick Patrick Star should look away now... Psychologists have warned that children who regularly tune into SpongeBob SquarePants' escapades have lower concentration spans and bad problem solving skills.

Gender stereotypes: Does your child dress the part? BritMums discuss

By parentdish.co.uk, Sep 5, 2011

Are you a pink for girls and blue for boys kind of parent? Or are you from the school of thought that it really doesn’t matter and if it’s clean, sort of fits and you can find it, they’ll wear it?