Olivia Ward-Smith

The Montessori method is a popular educational philosophy that encourages children to pursue learning at their own pace and promotes freedom of choice, co-operation and independent discovery.

Developed in Italy in 1897 by Maria Montessori, the practice makes use of children's natural curiosity. It is centred around the idea that if kids are placed in an appropriate environment with suitable tools they will pursue knowledge independently.

There are even specialist schools dedicated to teaching with the Montessori method, but it's a practice that can be employed in the home almost as soon as your child is born with the use of specialist toys. In fact, Maria Montessori was of the belief that children have the greatest capacity for learning in their first six years.

There are no 'official' Montessori toys per se, but certain playthings cater to the essential philosophies of the method and are among the best developmental toys for infants. These toys are simple, usually focusing on a single action or skill, and should be developmentally appropriate (i.e.

not too advanced for your child to understand).

They should also be grounded in reality (realistic images that reflect the world that children see around them are key) and are often made from natural materials, whether that be wood, wool, metal, ceramic or cotton.

Montessori wooden toys, rattles, stacking toys, baby musical instruments, building blocks and puzzles are among the most popular Montessori toys out there, and we've collected together a wide range on our list below. Take a look and find the best Montessori toy for your child!

Most parents understand that sex and puberty are perfectly natural, normal human processes that almost all of us experience.

Most parents also know that talking to kids about them can be a little embarrassing. But there's no need for it to be.

As your child reaches puberty, they will notice themselves beginning to change, both physically and mentally, and it's essential to provide them with the knowledge and tools to navigate this change without fear or embarrassment. Enabling them to do so can actually be a very empowering act.

The way we talk to kids about sex and their bodies can help shape their relationship with them as they grow older. Having open, healthy conversations about these things can actually be an exciting, eye-opening and mutually-beneficial experience.

In terms of age, it's up to you when you decide to begin educating your children on these sorts of issues.

We are of the belief that it's never too early to start discussing these things in an appropriate manner. Some experts suggest talking openly about puberty, sex and our bodies with children as young as five if they show curiosity.

Most agree that between eight and twelve is a good age to begin broaching these topics, so that kids are well-informed, and not getting their information from inaccurate, potentially harmful sources.

Having said this, pre-teens and teenagers often need their space and are probably more likely to ingest this information properly if they are left to process it in their own way. That's why informative books about puberty for girls and boys can be really useful tools.

They allow kids to review this information in private, in their own time and then approach you of their own volition if they want to discuss anything further, removing the awkward tension of an in-depth, face-to-face chat, which may not suit every child.

The value of these sorts of texts is becoming much more generally understood, and they are now pretty widely available from any of the big high street book retailers and online. Read on to discover our guide to the most comprehensive and informative books about puberty out there, and to find out which, specifically, is best for your child.

Robots have long had the power to elicit reverence and awe in adults and children alike.  

Is it their superhuman brainpower? Or the fact that they are replicated time and time again in films, TV shows and various other pop culture forms?

There's something inherently cool about them that's difficult to define. Whatever it is, kids love them, and a robot toy is a great way to both entertain and educate your child.

A robot toy is essentially a machine that can be programmed to perform different tasks independently of a human, with many even demonstrating distinct personalities. Besides being cool and fun to play with, a robotic toy also offers many educational opportunities.

Robotics, i.e.

the building and operating of robots, is a great field to get kids interested in; practising it helps stimulate creativity and aid cognitive development.

Building a robot helps children develop STEM skills and improve focus, whilst the programming needed to get it to complete various tasks helps to stimulate a child's problem-solving abilities.

Many of the best robot toys include step-by-step instructions to help your kids get to grips with basics of robot engineering, constructing and coding, so they'll have their own home robot up and running in no time.

With all these benefits, it's no surprise that robot toys for kids are becoming increasingly popular and available; you can now buy them at most of the large toy retailers, and online. Take a look at our pick of the top robotics toys, models and sets and find the best robot toys for your kids.

A child's imagination is boundless, and, given the right toys, kids can dream up all sorts of things.

A toy castle is the perfect toy to promote imaginative play as it can provide the backdrop to all sorts of fanciful adventures, and will delight lovers of fairytales and knights, dragons and quests, princes and princesses.

It's the sort of toy that has been enjoyed by children for generations, and, when well cared for, can provide years of enjoyment.

We've gathered together a range of the best kids' castle toys so that you can find the one your child will love the most. Personally, we love the old-fashioned wooden variety, which look lovely, will last for years and make more environmentally-friendly playthings.

But there are plenty of different kinds to choose from; from knights' castles to fairy castles, traditional to themed, readymade to build-it-yourself, we've got a toy castle for every taste.

Peruse our list and find the best toy castle for your child. They'll love you for it.

For more imaginative playtime toys, take a look at these tea party tea sets and the best diverse baby dolls for kids.