Attention spans for children are notoriously small. Christmas? When was that? As adults we are fairly used to making, and breaking, the odd new year’s resolutions. Well, every new year’s resolution. But where we so often fail in discipline, in the sustenance needed for long term resolutions, what does this teach our children? How can we model a positive spin on the tried and kicked to the kerb new years resolution? For starters we can approach it with fun in mind. What do you

I don’t think I’ve ever met a child, or grown up for that matter, who isn’t transfixed, or at least intrigued by, a land of complete fantasy

Risk taking and toddlers. Not usually the words you would happily put together. However, studies show us that certain risk-taking behaviour

Christmas with your new baby. Magic or mayhem? Christmas is an emotive word. One with many connotations depending on personal experience, and how many glasses of prosecco you’ve had. What is essentially a beautiful time of the year, spending time with people you care about and a day or six indulging all your sweet and savoury teeth relatively guilt free, can often feel more mayhem than magic, especially with a young family. Trying to factor in time with split families, with m

Here comes the sun! And don’t we love it? It’s the chance to shed our wintery togs, feel the grass between our toes and make ourselves some vitamin D. Sea, sunblock and salads – it’s all good news, but while you’re all out and about, loving the heat, just remember to keep one sun-glassed eye on whether your toddler is taking enough water on board. In relation to their size, small children have greater fluid needs than adults and are less heat tolerant, so in the summer, when

The Forest School concept was initiated in the 1980s in Denmark where the open-air culture ('frulitsliv') is a way of life. It first came to Britain in the early 1990s when a group of nursery nurses and lecturers from Bridgewater College in Somerset visited Scandinavia and saw how children became more creative and increased their self-esteem in an outdoor, wooded environment. So now if you go down to the woods today, you're really are in for a big surprise – not just the pros

What’s not to love about sport? With it comes the chance to get outdoors, have a fun time with friends, do your best, feel the adrenaline rush and experience the boost to your body and mind. That’s the case for all of us, from toddler to senior league! Guidelines recommend that preschool children who can walk on their own are physically active for three hours a day, and enrolling them in a sports club – football, tennis, swimming, judo, hockey, etc – is a great way of achievi

Though it’s a well-known fact that rates of teenage mental health problems are increasing alarmingly, it is less recognised that very young children can feel stressed too. NHS Digital has suggested that self-harm in preschool children is on the rise, even among those as young as three who may bite, scratch, punch or slap themselves, maybe pull out their hair, or show changes in behaviour, emotions or health. Changes in a family’s circumstance – a house move, the birth of a ne

As an experienced Early Years Specialist Teacher I have often been asked by parents how they can support their children's learning at home through he use of computers and tablets. There are a range of paid and free apps as well as several websites that I have used and recommend for young children. Here are my favourites: 1,Nursery Rhymes TV https://www.youtube.com/user/NurseryRhymesTV1 I'm a keen advocate of how music can help children learn in a fun and engaging way. I have

Creative play and imaginative arts experiences play a central role in toddlers’ learning and development. You can encourage your toddler and support his/her creativity with fun creative activities. Here are some ideas: Encouraging your toddler’s creative play For toddlers, creative play is about the process of creating. There’s no right and wrong in how toddlers create and respond to art. Through free-flowing creative play, toddlers can explore their world in their own way, w