Every mother wishes, more than anything, for their child to be happy and healthy; however, to achieve this feat requires a great deal of work and attention.

Everyone knows eating fruit helps us to grow, but how can we get our children to take notice of this without resorting to physical force? Well, we can start by using fun games to acquaint and familiarise our children with fruits and berries. We need to start by giving them foods which they will eat willingly.

Please find several recommendations below:

Good day to you, I am a pear, apple, banana...

No doubt you all have at your disposal a cookery book or some kind of gardening manual containing stunning photographs of delicious fruits and berries. Well, why not have a flick through this book with your child, show them the striking pictures and get them acquainted with various kinds of luscious fruits.

To get them more involved, try acting out a role play where you can engage your child in a dialogue to help them appreciate the fruits. After this, you could compare the photographs in the books with the fruits that you have in your own home.

Naturally, you will need to prepare for this in advance, but make sure this doesn't show when you are playing the game with your child. Again, why not play out a scene using friendly conversations, holding strawberries, currants, pears or bananas in your hand. If you child refuses to eat the fruit, then make sure you don't force them in any way.

KIDDIES PLAY: Banana guests

We have already acquainted ourselves with the fruit so now we can pretend to pay them a visit. For this, we need to establish where they live. In the summer this is easy; provided you have a fruit and vegetable plot. In the winter you may need to dig out your gardening manuals.

If you want to find out about exotic fruits, then you may need to look them up in an encyclopaedia or on the Internet. In any event, you need to tell your child and if possible show them how these and other fruits and berries grow. You must bear in mind, however, that you cannot pay someone a visit without bringing a present! Will fruit suffice?

Yes of course, or maybe you could take a pretty vase, a lacy doily or a tablecloth. When you arrive as a guest, you must conduct a genteel conversation with the host and lay down the vase of berries, and persuade your child admire and eat the fruit; although do mention in passing that the fruit and berries cannot personally thank you for visiting them. Never under any circumstances insist or force your children to play. Patience, patience, patience....

HEALTHY IDEAS: A juicy day!

From the moment your child wakes up, let them know that it is going to be a special day; or a 'juicy day.'

Instead of drinking tea, coffee, beer or compotes, the whole family will drink an assortment of juices. You can buy ready prepared juices in colourful cartons, or, better still, you can help your child to prepare their own fruit juice in a juicer. Make sure that your child takes active participation in the process: take the fruit out of the fridge, place a jug on the table, and then simply sit back and observe.

During preparation you may want to encourage your child to try some slices of apple or orange so that he/she can compare the fresh fruit with the fruit juice. It is recommended that you dilute the juice slightly so as to weaken the concentration of sugar and the sourness of the fruit.

You also must show that everyone in the family loves to drink fruit juice.