Parents should dress their tots in outdoor baby clothes and take their kids to the local park as often as possible.

Charity Parentline Plus pointed out that playing with little ones is important for their development, allowing them to build relationships with the adults around them and helping mums and dads to become role models.

These types of activities also develop emotional literacy, meaning kids gain the capacity to deal with sharing, making friends and how to deal with frustration.

Senior parent support coordinator at the non-profit body Doreen Jones remarked: "Spending time with children shows them they are important and loved. It allows children to make mistakes and find solutions building their confidence and self esteem."

Her remarks follow a recent study by the University of Montreal and the University of Minnesota which discovered a mother's behaviour around her child when playing and problem-solving plays a big part in executive functioning.

Professor of psychology at the latter institution Annie Bernier suggested lessons learned very early in life are carried through into childhood and determine academic success.ADNFCR-3005-ID-19606972-ADNFCR