Toys that grow with your child

The best toys are often the simplest. Stacking blocks, soft balls and wooden shapes can be played with in new ways at every stage.

A baby will hold and mouth a block, a toddler will stack it, and a three-year-old will turn the same blocks into a house, a road or a shop.

Look for safe, well-finished materials, pieces too large to swallow and colours that stay bright after washing.

Fewer toys, rotated every few weeks, keep play fresh and make tidying up much easier for everyone.