It's always an endearing sight, to see a small child imitating an adult. Of course, that does largely depend on whether the action being imitated is appropriate, but let's assume that it is. Children are pre programmed to observe as much as possible during the first few months, and as soon as they have worked out what all the floppy bits sticking out of their body can do, they use their arms and legs to grab objects, or copy actions that they see their parents doing. This is not simply an act that they do in order to gain approval and adoring coos and whimpers of delight from doting parents, but it is their way of trying to make sense of the world.

When you think about it from a child's perspective, the idea of walking around the house talking animatedly to a small rectangle of black plastic, which we hold against the side of our head, does seem pretty daft. Almost as daft as sitting in the front of a car holding on to that round thing, rather than sitting in the back and having fun whilst the car drives you to where you're going. Children could not possibly be expected to understand that the disassociated voice that can be heard in the phone is actually their parent talking to them - not when so many other toys speak to them all the time.

But children love pretending to be on the phone - it seems such an odd activity, but one they see happening so much of the time. Therefore, having their own toy telephone helps them to feel that they are a part of the world around them, and therefore more likely to fit in and be accepted, it also helps them to feel more grown up, because they are doing something just as well as mummy or daddy, and it also helps them to feel that they are starting to understand a little bit more about how the world works.

Of course, toy telephones come in all styles, from the old circular dial phone, to funky looking mobile phones; phones which run along on wheels, phones that beep and play tunes, phones that teach you about numbers and colours, and even phones that talk to you in your favourite cartoon character's voice.

All of these are educational and helpful, but what is also helpful is that when a child is old enough to be trusted with a proper phone, they will be happy to use it, hold it against their ear, and hear their parent or other family member chatting to them. They are less likely to be unnerved by the experience of having their parent's voice in their ear without their parent being with them!

Of course, delightful those these are, bear in mind that pull along phones or those with cables or chords are not recommended for very young children because of the danger of getting it caught around their neck, and do also bear in mind that once your child becomes confident with the idea of a phone, they'll be after your next! Finding that they have got your mobile and have called a random phone number and left it on for a couple of hours for you is not a pleasant way of discovering your child's increased confidence and understanding.