Today Tile Triggered Content

Welcome to the My First Five Years Blog. Here you will find all sorts of information, ideas and activities that will help you to support your child.

Why taking turns and sharing is much harder than it seems

Do you find it almost impossible to have your turn when playing with your toddler? Don’t worry, you aren’t alone! Learning to take turns and share is not easy and uses social, emotional and cognitive skills your toddler hasn’t mastered just yet.

Things to think about that might help...

1 min read Read Now

Gross Motor,
Toddlers,
GM16.3

Admire your little flamingo as they stand on one leg

Your toddler might be starting to occasionally lift one leg when they are supported by either another person, or some furniture. Let's look at some of the skills your budding flamingo will learn as a result of practising this tricky new skill.

A new sense of balance

2 min read Read Now

Gross Motor,
Toddlers,
GM16.2

Careful climbing – helping your toddler to climb safely

What goes up, must come down… and as your toddler starts to enjoy the challenge of climbing, it can be a worrying thing for you. But giving them time and space to explore this stage of development – while in a safe environment – will help support them to develop and understand safe climbing.

Safe climbing

2 min read Read Now

GM16.1

Getting into their stride – the development of smoother moves and speed when walking

The development of walking takes much longer in humans than it does in any other species. The main reasons for this are that humans walk on two legs and are juggling balance, posture and gravitational pulls from the earth.^[1] Your toddler has been on a great journey so far in developing the skill of walking. Now their journey continues as they experiment with how to change their walking speed.

Stereotypies – what went before

1 min read Read Now

S16.3

What is joint attention?

Joint attention can help babies, toddlers and children develop their speaking, listening and social skills – but what is it?

Joint attention is when one person deliberately coordinates the focus of their attention to the same thing as another person.

1 min read Read Now

S16.2

Our tips for sharing stories with your toddler

Stories open up a whole new world for toddlers – along with firing up their ideas and imagination, sharing books with them can support development across many areas.

Focus on pictures and illustrations

1 min read Read Now

S16.1

From words to phrases – tips for helping your toddler expand their speech

Your toddler will be growing in confidence with their speech – saying some familiar and new words, and beginning to join them together. Here are a few tips to help you nurture this development.

Recast

1 min read Read Now

GM15.1

Born to move – you just need to give them space to do it

Your toddler learns about themselves and the world by moving. When you watch your child, you will notice more and more that they have a natural, curious desire to move and investigate all the movements they can make.

Words of wisdom about children on the move

1 min read Read Now

S15.2

Encouraging speech and avoiding frustration – finding the right balance for your toddler

Toddlers can find it difficult to regulate their emotions and become frustrated when what they want to do doesn't quite match what they are able to. So, how can you balance encouraging independence while avoiding frustration? For many toddlers, talking is a big help.

One way to encourage your toddler to talk is by making sure they have a reason! That could simply be that you have a good time together when you play, look at books or chat about what is happening.

2 min read Read Now

S15.1

Should my toddler be saying more?

At this point in your toddler’s journey, you may be asking yourself: should they be saying more words or words that are clearer? Does my friend's child say more than mine? It’s hard not to compare, but using these questions instead might help.

Some things to consider when it comes to your toddler’s speech

2 min read Read Now

23 24 25 26 27

Today Tile Triggered Content

Trending

Latest Posts

Why taking turns and sharing is much harder than it seems

Do you find it almost impossible to have your turn when playing with your toddler? Don’t worry, you aren’t alone! Learning to take turns and share is not easy and uses social, emotional and cognitive skills your toddler hasn’t mastered just yet.

Admire your little flamingo as they stand on one leg

Your toddler might be starting to occasionally lift one leg when they are supported by either another person, or some furniture. Let's look at some of the skills your budding flamingo will learn as a result of practising this tricky new skill.

Careful climbing – helping your toddler to climb safely

What goes up, must come down… and as your toddler starts to enjoy the challenge of climbing, it can be a worrying thing for you. But giving them time and space to explore this stage of development – while in a safe environment – will help support them to develop and understand safe climbing.

Getting into their stride – the development of smoother moves and speed when walking

What is joint attention?

Joint attention can help babies, toddlers and children develop their speaking, listening and social skills – but what is it?

Our tips for sharing stories with your toddler

Stories open up a whole new world for toddlers – along with firing up their ideas and imagination, sharing books with them can support development across many areas.

From words to phrases – tips for helping your toddler expand their speech

Your toddler will be growing in confidence with their speech – saying some familiar and new words, and beginning to join them together. Here are a few tips to help you nurture this development.

Born to move – you just need to give them space to do it

Your toddler learns about themselves and the world by moving. When you watch your child, you will notice more and more that they have a natural, curious desire to move and investigate all the movements they can make.

Encouraging speech and avoiding frustration – finding the right balance for your toddler

Toddlers can find it difficult to regulate their emotions and become frustrated when what they want to do doesn't quite match what they are able to. So, how can you balance encouraging independence while avoiding frustration? For many toddlers, talking is a big help.

Should my toddler be saying more?

At this point in your toddler’s journey, you may be asking yourself: should they be saying more words or words that are clearer? Does my friend's child say more than mine? It’s hard not to compare, but using these questions instead might help.

Today Tile Triggered Content

Trending

Early reminiscing with your child may help them share feelings in the future

Can it really be time to think about a potty? Yes, and it's not as scary as it sounds!

Big news in the world of potty training! And you might want to read about it sooner rather than later...

Time for potty training? Here's the latest advice on how to manage it

The importance of touch for your newborn's emotions

Hands, mouth and brain – why your baby explores their hands with their mouth

Have you heard of Elimination Communication toilet training? Here’s a quick explainer...

Let’s pretend – the power of imaginative play

Latest Posts

Why taking turns and sharing is much harder than it seems

Do you find it almost impossible to have your turn when playing with your toddler? Don’t worry, you aren’t alone! Learning to take turns and share is not easy and uses social, emotional and cognitive skills your toddler hasn’t mastered just yet.

Admire your little flamingo as they stand on one leg

Your toddler might be starting to occasionally lift one leg when they are supported by either another person, or some furniture. Let's look at some of the skills your budding flamingo will learn as a result of practising this tricky new skill.

Careful climbing – helping your toddler to climb safely

What goes up, must come down… and as your toddler starts to enjoy the challenge of climbing, it can be a worrying thing for you. But giving them time and space to explore this stage of development – while in a safe environment – will help support them to develop and understand safe climbing.

Getting into their stride – the development of smoother moves and speed when walking

What is joint attention?

Joint attention can help babies, toddlers and children develop their speaking, listening and social skills – but what is it?

Our tips for sharing stories with your toddler

Stories open up a whole new world for toddlers – along with firing up their ideas and imagination, sharing books with them can support development across many areas.

From words to phrases – tips for helping your toddler expand their speech

Your toddler will be growing in confidence with their speech – saying some familiar and new words, and beginning to join them together. Here are a few tips to help you nurture this development.

Born to move – you just need to give them space to do it

Your toddler learns about themselves and the world by moving. When you watch your child, you will notice more and more that they have a natural, curious desire to move and investigate all the movements they can make.

Encouraging speech and avoiding frustration – finding the right balance for your toddler

Toddlers can find it difficult to regulate their emotions and become frustrated when what they want to do doesn't quite match what they are able to. So, how can you balance encouraging independence while avoiding frustration? For many toddlers, talking is a big help.

Should my toddler be saying more?

At this point in your toddler’s journey, you may be asking yourself: should they be saying more words or words that are clearer? Does my friend's child say more than mine? It’s hard not to compare, but using these questions instead might help.