Today Date Triggered Content

The feeling that we need to be everything to everyone can be overwhelming as a parent, and research is showing this is particularly true for mothers. The expectation to excel at every area of your life, while also managing much of the mental load and practical tasks at home, makes it almost impossible to feel you're meeting your own expectations. We're seeing more and more research, and support, showing that this idea of being a 'supermum' (or dad) is not only unrealistic but also harmful - so here is why you can give yourself permission to put that expectation to bed once and for all. 

A 2022 poll from Bupa[1] has shown how harmful the idea of being a ‘supermum’ is to our mental health. It seems like everywhere we look there’s a social media post, t-shirt or parent talking about the mythical ‘supermum’ who works, parents, cooks, cleans, blogs, looks perfect and does it all with a smile.  

The clocks are going forwards, you might be feeling that you need all the sleep you can get, so aren’t looking forward to losing an hour! You might also be concerned about how lighter nights will affect your child’s sleep, so we have a few tips for sleep in Spring.

An Instagram Live with Early Years expert Alistair Bryce-Clegg and Jennie Johnson MBE.

This is a day when all things poetry are celebrated – from reading, writing and appreciating poems. Other art forms that link into poetry are also included, such as dance and performance. Poetry and rhyme are particularly amazing to introduce to small children as it is great for developing early phonological awareness. 

As with all our recipes, allowing your child to do as much of the process themselves, where appropriate, will support their learning and development. So, think about how they can help you, perhaps they can scoop, weigh, mix or chop independently, as this is where the real learning comes in!

Wake up your body for spring with some simple yoga stretches. Encourage your child to join in, showing them what to do as you move into each pose.   

St Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland, and this day is celebrated all over the world. Typically, parades are held in many cities in Ireland. As well as this, it has been a tradition since 1962 that the Chicago River is dyed green to celebrate this special day! 

When Spring Comes - By Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

When Spring Comes is totally gorgeous for children of all ages. It is a very gently written book that describes the change between Winter and Spring. It very cleverly observes how Spring can be changeable and how you might believe Spring has arrived when it hasn't. The sentences are simple, yet they are detailed and rhythmic. And the illustrations, are playful, colourful, simplistic, completely charming and endearing. There are tiny details included in the illustrations which detail absolutely how Spring would arrive. We adore this book because there is a sense of hope. On the first pages, the sentences start with, "If you wait," which is then followed by a glimpse of Spring. It will fill you with joy

Wake up your body for spring with some simple yoga stretches. Encourage your child to join in, showing them what to do as you move into each pose.   

Mealtimes are a super opportunity for a little fine motor workout. Spoons, forks and picking food up with fingers all require the smaller muscles to work together to achieve a desired outcome. Although you might wonder if allowing your child to interact with their food in this way is a good thing, the more independent your child becomes at mealtimes, the quicker they will be able to feed themselves without any mess. 
 
As with all areas of parenting, food mess is just a phase and if you can see past the mess, it is a brilliant opportunity for developing all the streams of learning!