All children are different and so they should be – but a normal bedtime for a child aged two and a half is between seven and eight at night. It's also normal for a child aged two and a half to lie awake for a while in the evening, talking and playing alone, and then to wake between five and six in the morning.

When children are about a year and half old, they start testing the boundaries. And their mood can flip from happy to hysterical in a second. This is a natural part of their development, but it can really test a parent's patience.

Do you feel like you've read the same story, sung the same song and put teddy on the right side of the pillow a million times? That's good. Kids love it when things are predictable – it makes them feel safe. This is why your child likes it when things are familiar and stay the same as they've always been.

There's a school of thought that says we should separate twins, keep them in different classes, or otherwise create distance between them. But no research clearly shows that this approach is better for the children.

This is a guide to travelling with young children – one of the greatest adventures of your life! From planning to departure, packing to sightseeing, expectations to reality:

Suddenly a toy flies through the air or your child is shoved by another one. Almost all children end up fighting or hitting their playmates at some point. It may help to know that this is not unusual. Find out why the children are fighting, help them, and stop it happening again.

Learning to help out as a child isn't just a matter of sharing in the housework. Learning early on to say “In our family we work together and help each other out” is a good start for something considerably more important – the child's self-worth.

Shyness is a matter of personality. Your child may be careful and take their time in trusting new people. Never reject your child's feelings; they are by definition not silly. Here are some tips for helping your child if he or she is shy.

Children who feel seen and accepted have a good chance of developing good self-esteem and becoming a confident person. But this isn't always enough. Here are a few specific tips on important day-to-day psychology.

As a rule, it's too early to expect your two-year-old to have friends in the way that older children or adults do. But at three years of age, children start to play nicely together.

By four o'clock, most people are tired. It's been a long day and they're worn out. The hours between now and dinnertime can be tough.

If you treat one another calmly and with respect at home, you probably won't have to think too much about the phrase “well-mannered”.