Divergent thinking is an aspect of creativity. It involves thinking of lots of possible solutions to a problem or task.[1]
The NHS gives guidance about the number of hours’ sleep children should have each day, this includes naps and night-time sleep.[1]
It is important to remember that everyone has different sleep needs. But this might be a helpful guide, especially if you think your child might not be getting enough sleep or doesn’t have much energy.
If you have concerns about your child’s sleep or energy levels, speak to your health visitor or doctor.
The four UK Chief Medical Officers published physical activity guidelines for under-fives, children and young people and adults in 2011, and these are still current advice.
They recommended that once children can walk, they should be physically active for at least three hours every day. For babies under the age of one, the recommendation if that they have 30 minutes of physical activity a day, including tummy time.
Physical activity for your baby or child is not expected to be an organised sport or formal activities (although it might be), but comes as part of their play and consists of a mixture of being active inside and outside.
It might include what are described as light activities, such as standing to play, paint or draw or moving around during play, but also things like running, jumping, swimming, riding a bike or playing on play equipment like climbing frames or slides.
Really it is about a mixture of activities both inside and outside, and avoiding long periods of time sitting. It should include time doing more vigorous physical activity (for pre-schoolers the recommendation is that an hour each day is spent doing more vigorous activities).
It will probably come as no surprise to find out that researchers have found an association between physical activity and the amount of time toddlers sleep.
One study used activity trackers and parental reports of sleep, and found a one-minute increase in daily moderate to vigorous physical activity corresponded to about two and a half minutes more sleep.[3] Although it is important to note, this was quite a small study, and more research is needed to really understand this relationship.
What these guidelines and research suggest is that when about it comes to your child’s sleep it might be useful to think about their entire day – not just bedtime.
Three things to think about during the day that might help night-time sleep:
Having access to natural light during the day regulates the hormones that help your toddler feel awake and sleepy at the right times.
What your toddler does during the day will help them to sleep well, so chatting, playing and having time to move each day all helps – although also think about having a bit less stimulation as it gets closer to time to sleep or rest.
Thinks about physical activities you enjoy as well - if you love going for a walk or a swim, why not do this with your child.
You can find out more about swimming with your baby or toddler on the Waterbabies website.
Food can have an impact on sleep and while some toddlers might sleep better if they have a snack before bedtime, a large meal close to bedtime might make it more difficult to get to sleep.
Having sugar close to bedtime can give your toddler a burst of energy, so you might find it helps to avoid fruit as a bedtime snack.
References:
[1] NHS. Helping your baby to sleep. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/caring-for-a-newborn/helping-your-baby-to-sleep/
[2] NHS (no date). Physical activity guidelines for children (under 5 years). Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/exercise-guidelines/physical-activity-guidelines-children-under-five-years/
[3] Felzer-Kim, I. & Hauk, J.L. (2020). ‘Sleep duration associates with moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity and body fat in 1- to 3-year-old children’. Infant Behavior and Development, 58. Article 101392.
[4] The Sleep Charity (2020). Diet and Sleep. Available at: https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/information-support/children/diet-sleep/
Many, if not most, of the tasks we do each day require us to use bilateral coordination, and often to control and combine our movements so that our hands (or arms, or legs) are working together to achieve the same goal.
Young children can appear to be uncoordinated or clumsy when they are learning some of these skills as they are still learning how to control their bodies to achieve bilateral coordination.
They will learn through having lots of opportunities to move while they play, and by being given time to try, fail and try again when tasks are tricky.
Activities you might enjoy together like having a trip to play on the swings or a visit to the swimming pool, can support your child to develop their physical skills.[1]
To make it even harder for them, they have to learn various forms of coordination and match the right one with the task they’re trying to complete.
Examples include: jumping with two legs together, pushing a buggy, using a rolling pin, swinging and clapping hands.
Examples include: climbing stairs, walking, riding a bike and hopscotch.
Examples include: fastening a zip, using a knife and fork, using scissors, threading and opening containers.
Reference:
[1] Borioni, F., Biino, V., Tinagli, V., & Pesce, C. (2022). Effects of baby swimming on motor and cognitive development: a pilot trial. Perceptual and motor skills, 129(4), 977-1000.
If you’ve looked around your home and wondered how you already have so many toys (including perhaps lots that aren’t played with anymore), you might be ready for some zero waste play ideas.
In this week’s research article, we’re going to look at the benefits of reading to your child whatever their age and give you some ideas for sharing stories together.
We know children’s brains develop faster during their first five years than at any other time in their life.[1] Simple things, like reading stories, are brilliant for laying the foundations for a lifetime of learning.
The Book Trust have summarised the evidence about the benefits of reading for children. They say children who read:
“Are more likely to overcome disadvantage caused by inequalities.
Are more likely to be happier, healthier and experience better wellbeing and self-esteem.
Are more likely to do better at school and make more progress across the curriculum.
Are more likely to develop empathy and creativity.”[2]
For all these reasons, it is never too early to start reading together, even if your child is still a young baby. When you read to your child (no matter their age) choose books you enjoy, find a comfortable place, use different voices, even sing if you want to – make this time fun for you both.
Books and stories can help your baby or child to pay attention, point out objects, learn words, think about problems and find out more about the world.
Wherever your child is on their skills journey you will notice activity ideas that use books and stories.
If you look in the ‘discover more’ section (near the bottom of the Today screen), you will find books and stories recommendations from our child development research team, all of which support the skills your child is mastering now.
While this is an exciting finding, it’s important to remember this is an average so you might read a bedtime story and your child still only seems to sleep for a couple of hours, but know they will have gained lots from being read to in other ways.
Bedtime can be a perfect time to fit in a snuggle and a story – and a regular sequence of things you do as part of a bedtime can be a good way to get a routine of sleep.
Find somewhere comfortable for you both
This might be cuddled up on the sofa, lying on the floor or with your child standing while you sit and read (for an exciting story your child might want to be able to stand up jump around!)
Have fun
Use funny voices, change the story, laugh – even sing if you want to!
Pause
Give your baby or child time to look at the pictures, talk about the story or just add their own bit of babble along to a tale they love.
Repeat favourites
Your baby or child might have a favourite story, don’t feel like you have to hide this away – repetition is a brilliant way to get them to join in.
Use a library or book swap
While favourites are great, you might want a change, so have a look on your local authority website and find out where your nearest library is. You might also find the library has free rhyme or story times you can go to.
You might also be able to swap books in other ways, either with friends or at a local book swap if there is one near you.
And finally - start when they’re young and keep reading – the research is clear that both babies and older children benefit from reading books with an adult.
[1] Book Trust (25 May, 2023). Children’s reading habits in the early years. family-survey-briefing-1-reading-in-the-early-years-2023.pdf (booktrust.org.uk)
[2] Book Trust (n.d.) The benefits of reading. benefits-of-reading---booktrust-2023.pdf
[3] Jones, C.H. & Ball, H. (2014). 'Exploring socioeconomic differences in bedtime behaviours and sleep duration in English preschool children'. Infant and child development, 23(5), 518-531.
Screen time can feel like a taboo subject for parents. Every family has a different approach to it, perhaps because of your own experience as a child or the routine you now have as a family.
Whatever your approach, parents are constantly bombarded with information about how much screen time is too much for young children.
At the weekend we saw this headline – ‘Children born in pandemic have poorer communication skills, study finds’.[1]
Sleep is one of the first aspects of children’s development that tests our determination not to compare. If your baby wakes multiple times a night, you might be desperate for the secret to uninterrupted sleep!
