Learning, Play and Behaviours
What to Expect and When
Potty/Toilet Training
Using a potty or toilet is a new skill for your child to learn. It’s best to take it slowly and go at your child’s pace. Being patient with them will help them get it right, even if you sometimes feel frustrated.
Children are able to control their bladder and bowels when they’re physically ready and when they want to be dry and clean. Every child is different, so it’s best not to compare your child with others.
Please click on the links below for further advice and information:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/potty-training-tips.aspx
http://www.eric.org.uk/assets/downloads/83/Potty%20training%20leaflet%20Abena%20%20web%20version.pdf
Why Play is Important
Play is more than just fun for babies and children. It’s how they learn, and how they work out who they are, how the world works and where they fit into it.
Playing is one of the most important things you can do with your child. The time you spend playing together gives your child lots of different ways and times to learn.
Play also helps your child:
- build confidence
- feel loved, happy and safe
- develop social skills, language and communication
- learn about caring for others and the environment
- develop physical skills
- connect and refine pathways in their brain.
Please click on the links below for further advice and information:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/why-play-is-important.aspx
http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/talk_to_your_baby/news/2332_10_reasons_why_play_is_important
Temper Tantrums
Temper tantrums usually start at around 18 months and are very common in toddlers. Hitting and biting are also a common display of behaviour for toddlers too.
One reason for this is toddlers want to express themselves, put their feelings in to words but find it difficult. They feel frustrated, and the frustration comes out as a tantrum. Once a child can talk more, they’re less likely to have tantrums. By the age of four, tantrums are far less common.
Please click on the links below for further advice and information:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/temper-tantrums.aspx
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/is-my-child-overactive.aspx
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/dealing-with-difficult-behaviour.aspx
Help your child learn to speak
Being able to talk is vital for socialising, making friends, as well as learning and understanding the world around you. Talking to your child from the day they are born is very important.
You can help your baby learn by holding them close to you, making eye contact and talking to them as soon as they’re born. They will look back at you and very soon begin to understand how conversations work. Even making ‘baby noises’ will teach your baby useful lessons about listening, the importance of words and taking turns in a conversation. And while you’re introducing your baby to these early conversations, you’ll also be building your relationship with your baby.
Please click on the links below for further advice and information:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/helping-your-childs-speech.aspx
http://www.wordsforlife.org.uk/baby/milestones
Reading with your child
There are so many benefits to reading with your children.
It offers a lovely opportunity for quality 1 – 1 time with your child and can be part of your child’s bedtime routine.
You can start reading from your child being a baby, as your baby will enjoy being close to you and hearing your voice. Babies under 6 months will also enjoy looking at bold pictures with contrasting colours such as black and white.
Older children will absorb what is being said to them, supporting their brain development, language development and listening skills as well as enhancing their creative thinking
Have you ever got bored of reading that same story over and over again? Next time your child asks to read the story, AGAIN! Remember repeating the same story is strengthening your child’s pathway in their brain
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Reading tips and advice for families and schools | BookTrust
50 Things To Do Before Your Five
50 Things To Do Before Your Five helps parents and carers to enhance learning opportunities whilst at home for children under the age of 5.
The 50 Things To Do App will give you 50 ‘low cost no cost’ activities to do with your child to help support their play and learning
To find out more about the app visit
50 Things to Do Before You’re Five in Leeds