Do 'developmental leaps' really exist?
Babies are wonderful. Wonderful and exhausting. Just as you think you might have (kind of) got it all figured out, something changes, and it can feel like you’re back at square one.
When we compare a tiny, curled-up newborn to a walking, talking toddler, it seems obvious that children go through a phenomenal amount of development and growth in the first couple of years of life, but it can feel bewildering when you are experiencing it, especially through the fog of fatigue. As a parent, this development can sometimes feel slow, then very fast, and it can be confusing. What made your baby happy one week might not work the next, and sometimes they can seem to enter fussy periods completely out of the blue.
Should you adjust your child’s sleep when the clocks change?
What’s not to love about the start of British Summer Time? The evenings get lighter, the days get longer, and spring is on its way. Which is all lovely, unless you have young children to convince that it’s night-time when the sun is clearly still very much up, and did we mention losing an hour’s sleep?
We love spring but as parents we often feel like we need all the sleep we can get, so it’s hardly surprising if you aren’t relishing the thought of losing an hour when the clocks change on March 26th. You might also be worried about how lighter nights will affect your child’s sleep, so we have a few tips for sleep in spring.
Why we love/hate World Book Day
We are huge fans of books at My First Five Years. There is nothing we love more than curling up with a good story to get lost in, whether reading for our own pleasure or enjoying sharing a book with children.
So why is it that the words “World Book Day” can send us into a tailspin of panic and dread?
Small acts of kindness and children
With World Kindness Day just around the corner, we’ve been thinking about children and kindness.
When you think about it, small acts of kindness from children are a big deal. When they give you a daisy or draw you a picture, they are giving you something they really treasure, and that is a huge gift.
Sad beige – what is it and does it matter how I decorate my child’s room?
Not too long ago, I heard the phrase ‘sad beige’ for the first time. At first, I was clueless. Did this apply to food, clothes, personality? I had no idea (and I personally have nothing against beige food – houmous, potatoes in all their guises and bread all get a big yes from me).
A quick search of the internet revealed it actually applied to an aesthetic. It seemed that some parents were favouring neutral-toned nurseries and toys for their children, instead of the brighter colours often associated with childhood, and dressing them in clothes dominated by colours such as oatmeal and caramel, which frankly sound delicious, if nothing else. Online commentators started talking about ‘sad, beige’ children who dressed in sad, beige clothes, lived in beige houses and were generally deprived of any joy. Which all sounded a bit much.
Why Blue Monday might be the best day of the year so far
January can sometimes feel a bit like a month of Mondays. It’s cold, it’s still dark, and we’re all feeling pretty exhausted from the festivities. But that doesn’t mean so-called ‘Blue Monday’ is the most depressing day of the year!
The concept of Blue Monday was introduced by TV travel channel Sky Travel Shop in 2005 and isn’t a scientifically proven concept at all.
Resolve to ditch New Year’s resolutions
You’ve barely succumbed to the final, unloved Quality Street that no one else wanted when you’re suddenly thrust headlong into New Year’s resolutions, thinking about ways to be more of this or better at that.
Sometimes we all feel the pull of a fresh start, particularly after days inside eating leftover roast potatoes.
Giving your child a break from Christmas
We are huge fans of Christmas. It’s such a magical time, with little people full of wonder and excitement – sometimes, dare we say it, verging on too much excitement!
Alongside the trips to visit Santa, the thrill of decorating the tree and leaving snacks for the big man himself, your child might also have a nativity or Christmas carol production, later nights than usual and more sweet treats. And that can add up to be a lot for a child to handle.
