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Child Development

Take a look at our wide range of articles relating to child development from learning and play, to social and emotional development and communication skills

Check back regularly for our latest updates for babies, toddlers and pre-school kids.
Questions to ask preschoolers about their artwork

Questions to ask preschoolers about their artwork

Young children love to paint and draw, build and sculpt and when they present us with their artworks it’s easy to tell them that they’ve done a great job - whatever the results! However with a few open-ended questions you can find out a little more about what they’ve produced and what inspired them. You’ll also help develop their creative and critical thinking skills in the process.
9 ways music & movement helps young kids learn

9 ways music & movement helps young kids learn

By adding music to movement young kids gain so many more benefits beyond movement alone, and it is lots of fun! From developing their language, memory and social skills to creative thinking and focused listening, they also start to build music foundations such as singing in tune and moving in time. So what can young kids get out of well-written music and movement experiences?
4 Benefits of screen time for preschoolers

4 Benefits of screen time for preschoolers

It’s not often we associate ‘benefits’ with screen time, but when used in moderation there are some benefits to be had for pre-school kids. It’s all about balance! Find out more about the educational, communication, creative and physical benefits of screen time.
When kids prefer one parent over the other

When kids prefer one parent over the other

Preferring one parent to the other is a normal stage of your kids development. While this can be quite hurtful for the parent who is being excluded, it is helpful to remember that it is usually just a phase which will pass soon enough. Find out what can you do when your kids tend to prefer one parent over the other.
What's all the fuss about heuristic play?

What's all the fuss about heuristic play?

Heuristic play is about playing with real-life, everyday objects and providing kids with an opportunity for open-ended discovery. When children are involved in heuristic play, they are using familiar objects in different ways. It is the process of exploring the different ways to use the objects that is important in the play.
Toddlers who bite

Toddlers who bite

Biting amongst toddlers is not uncommon. In most cases it’s just a phase they go through. We take a look at why toddlers bite and ways to help eliminate their biting altogether.
10 Steps to ditching your toddler's dummy

10 Steps to ditching your toddler's dummy

Is it time to ditch your toddler's dummy? The longer you leave it to get rid of your toddler's dummy, the more attached they will become to it. Bite the bullet while they're young and the agony will be less in the long run (although it may not feel like it at the time!). Make a start and follow these 10 simple steps.
Exploring Science & Nature

Exploring Science & Nature

Exploring science and nature can be so much fun for little ones. When toddlers and preschoolers are engaged in learning about science and nature, they are also learning strategies for active exploration, thinking and reasoning and develop working theories for making sense of the natural, social, physical and material worlds.
Healthy body, healthy mind

Healthy body, healthy mind

Find out how physical play and development are linked to reading and writing skills. The brain plays its part in children’s writing and reading but the body needs to be ready physically too. Little hands and eyes need developing ready for successful reading and writing.
6 tips on Tummy Time for babies

6 tips on Tummy Time for babies

Not all babies like their first few sessions of tummy time, but with your encouragement it’s an early developmental milestone they’ll start to enjoy in their own time. However, the sooner you start, the quicker they will adapt. Check out our useful tummy time tips.
Teaching babies the difference between day & night

Teaching babies the difference between day & night

Teaching babies the difference between day and night can be a bit of a challenge until their body clock kicks in. However it's something you can easily help them learn from just a few weeks old. Whilst it’s not possible to establish a routine when your baby is very young, there are things you can do to separate day and night activities. In the long run it will also mean you will both start to get more sleep.
Why do kids have imaginary friends?

Why do kids have imaginary friends?

There’s evidence that children's imaginary friends are more widespread than ever. Find out why it’s normal, how make believe can affect a child’s development, adjusting to your child’s new friend, when should you be worried and how long will their imaginary friend be around for.
Benefits of baby signing

Benefits of baby signing

Baby sign language is primarily about bonding and communicating with your little one and comes with many benefits. Babies are born with a natural instinct to communicate and make themselves understood through gesturing, smiling, crying and making sounds. Baby sign language builds on their gesturing so you can begin to understand what they are saying to you. Find out more about some of the benefits.
Moving your toddler to their first big bed

Moving your toddler to their first big bed

Moving from a cot to their new big bed is a milestone in your toddler’s life. Some are excited about the transition, whilst others find it all a bit daunting. Make moving to their first big bed easy for your toddler with these simple tips.
Helping toddlers make friends

Helping toddlers make friends

Are you worried your toddler isn't making friends? It's perfectly normal. Although some toddlers are naturally confident, most are typically slow to make friends to begin with. Here are some simple suggestions to help those early friendships blossom.
When toddlers swear & ask awkward questions

When toddlers swear & ask awkward questions

Kids will be kids and there will come a stage when they swear or ask awkward questions at inappropriate times, but what can you do to help address it? Check out these useful tips.
8 tips on moving into the pre-school years

8 tips on moving into the pre-school years

The period between 3 to 5 years old is a distinct time of growth and development for kids, a time for learning new skills and building their confidence. By understanding what’s coming up next in terms of their development you’ll be more prepared and the transition will be a little smoother for everyone.
Benefits of adventure play for preschoolers

Benefits of adventure play for preschoolers

Adventure play or imaginative play comes with many benefits for preschoolers and is all about giving them a wide range of resources and materials to have fun with, experiment with and to help them build their own creations with.
The effects of W-sitting

The effects of W-sitting

We take a look at the effects of W-Sitting, why it’s not ideal and the postural and developmental issues it may cause young kids.
The plus side of play dates

The plus side of play dates

Are play dates really necessary when kids are young? We take a look at some of the benefits and developmental effects play dates can have on older babies, toddlers and pre-school kids when they catch up with their friends.
Stranger anxiety in babies & toddlers

Stranger anxiety in babies & toddlers

Stranger anxiety is a normal, common part of your baby's or toddler's development. Just as babies and toddlers go through different phases of language development and motor development, they also go through different stages of social development. Stranger anxiety is one of these stages.
10 Tips to help reduce toddler tantrums

10 Tips to help reduce toddler tantrums

Check out these tips on how to help reduce your little one’s tantrums which often occur between the ages of 18 months and 3 years old, with meltdowns of screaming, crying, kicking, biting and hitting as they try to express their emotions.
7 Tips on learning to share

7 Tips on learning to share

Learning to share is all part of growing up, although it doesn't always come naturally with young children. Follow these tips on helping your toddler and pre-schooler learn to share and to develop friendships along the way.
Dealing with aggressive behaviour

Dealing with aggressive behaviour

There may seem to be no clear reason as to why children become aggressive, but often it is caused when they are finding it difficult to express their feelings through words. We look at the three main causes of aggression and share some ideas to help overcome and reduce aggressive behaviour and bring it under control.

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