More children than ever are turning their attention to digital literature than regular books. High street bookstores are on the decline, and while many of us may still be attached to our regular reading material, it makes sense to embrace our children's interests by seeking out eBooks to pique their interest in the written word.

There are many, many sites from which we can download children's eBooks, but as any parent understands certain books are just better than others. The quality of language, illustration and storytelling set some books apart from their competitors... and of course it's even better if those books can be found for free!

Here is a list of sites which provide eBooks for children of all ages which you can access for free on a tablet or PC. Many provide downloads (in PDF, ePub or MOBI format) while others must be accessed online. Wherever possible, I've tried to include links to "tablet-friendly" eBooks, though in some cases you may find it easier to download materials to your PC and transfer them to your preferred reading device.

We've long known the beneficial properties of music for babies. Lullabies or classical music have been used by parents the world over to soothe their babies and help them drift off to sleep, not to mention the benefits of bonding with your infant while singing your favourite songs!

Recent studies have also shown that music can be used as therapy for premature babies to help soothe them and increase the sucking reflex which helped them gain weight. Live music and the sound of a parent singing to the beat of a lullaby was proven to have the biggest impact.

But can music help babies become smarter?

The Children's University is a wonderful trust which aims to provide children with opportunities for low-cost, accessible extra-curricular activities across the UK. I'm an avid fan of this wonderful scheme which has enabled Princess to enjoy many free and low-cost activities which we may otherwise not have been able to afford.

Sharing books with your baby is an ideal way to introduce literacy skills and provide a sound basis for learning to read as they grow older. Babies are soothed by familiar voices and are adept at learning new skills even though we may not realise it.

Much of a child's capacity to learn is developed in the first three years of life. Studies have shown that children who experience reading aloud from infancy are far more likely to be successful readers as they grow older. And of course, reading with baby allows for enjoyable cuddle time!

In this post I'll explain some tried and tested tips for reading with babies and toddlers which can help nurture their future enjoyment of the written and spoken word.

As compulsory food technology lessons have been phased out of the compulsory curriculum, more and more teenagers leave school unable to cook a simple meal.

To encourage children to learn these basic skills, Leon Restaurants have set up the Cook5 campaign to challenge school-aged children to cook five simple savoury meals and share their experiences on the website.

To celebrate National Poetry Month, I've compiled an anthology of classic poetry for children which you can download absolutely free!

Rollicking Rhyme features classic verse by Lewis Carrol, Christina Rosetti, Abbie Farwell-Brown and many more authors, chosen specifically for their appeal to younger readers. From nursery rhymes to mischief-making, cautionary tales and flights of fancy, there are poems to suit everyone.

This eBook is available in PDF, ePub and .mobi formats so you can enjoy it on any device you like! What's more, it's available under the CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) license, so feel free to download, share and distribute Rollicking Rhyme any way you like!

Download Rollicking Rhyme (.zip file, includes PDF, ePub and Mobi)

Read on to preview and learn more about this free anthology of poetry.