Why is my child using words like ‘big,’ and ‘little?’ Why does it matter?
You might be wondering why there is a lot of fuss made about your child using words like, ‘big,’ and ‘little.’ These words are massively linked to cognitive development as they help your child to categorise objects, but there is a huge link to their language development too!
We use language associated with size all day long when reading, talking to others and describing what we see.
Why does my child love to join in with parts of familiar stories?
You might let out a little sigh when the same book comes out again, and again, but hearing the same words being read helps your child learn as they can better understand word meanings and how to use them in context. It’s typical for children to enjoy books that have repetitive and familiar phrases as they are easier for them to remember, and it’s quite fun for them to chant along with you as you read!
Why repetition in stories is good...
The sequence and flow of the day – how understanding is coming together
Sequencing helps your child carry out events and tell stories in the right order. You probably talk to your child every day about what's happening, putting together a sequence of plans. Being able to put events into chronological order is a skill that’s used more than you might think, and one that'll be handy for your child to achieve.
Putting events in order happens all the time – your daily routine is a perfect example of this!
The challenge of giving your toddler space (and time) to learn new skills
As parents we often have to think through the complicated dance between what is best (easiest, most comfortable and realistic) right now, and what might be best in the long run for your toddler’s development, independence and confidence. It’s not easy, and there’s no one answer which will work every time, but what we want you to know is that you’re doing an amazing job just by being realistic about when you can, and can’t, let your toddler take the lead.
You know that your toddler needs lots of chances to try, and fail, at new skills before they really get to grips with them and become able to do something independently. Sometimes, however, you simply find it is easier and faster to help them out to get the job done.
Sunshine and happiness: getting outside to play in natural light can benefit you and your toddler
It seems a bit obvious, and not very useful to hear, but remember to go outside! Getting out into sunlight can make you happier, improve sleep and be good for your body.
Heading outdoors can be the just the thing on a tricky day, resetting everyone’s mood and giving your body a bit of fresh air and exercise, but the benefit of being outside in natural light is often overlooked – and it shouldn’t be!
Heave-ho! Exploring why toddlers love lifting heavy objects
Have you noticed your toddler trying (and maybe managing) to lift or move items that just seem far too big, or heavy, for them to manage? Never mind superheroes, your toddler is growing and developing so quickly that they are the ones truly embracing super strength as they challenge themselves to lift large or heavy items.
Lifting is often a skill that can be overlooked when thinking of physical development and gross motor skills. But each time your toddler lifts something big up off the floor, or pushes against a heavy object to get it moving, they’re demonstrating (and developing) their rapidly developing sense of strength and balance.
How remembering past events shapes your toddler's actions and behaviours
Remembering things that have happened in the past can change how we act in the future. Our memories can shape our perceptions, influence decision-making, and affect how we interact with others. Your toddler has been forming episodic memories for quite some time now about what they’ve been doing, the people they know and emotions linked to events and experiences.
Memories can make your toddler feel happy or scared, and they can help them understand the world better.
How toddlers remember: growing and learning through life experiences
When you ask your toddler what they’ve been doing in their day, it can be hard for them to think. They may say they’ve been doing nothing or that they simply don’t know, yet they are able to remember things from a while ago and tell you about them out of the blue; this is because their memory and language skills are still developing.
Memories are formed by neurons that fire in our brains
Puzzles and jigsaws – where did they originate from and why are they so good?
Puzzles and jigsaws have been around for centuries, with evidence of puzzle-like games dating back to ancient civilizations (it’s believed by some that Greek mathematician, Archimedes, created the first puzzles around 250 BC when he cut up a square of wood into 14 different shaped pieces and tried to reassemble them).[1] However, the modern-day jigsaw puzzle was invented in the 1760s by John Spilsbury, a British engraver and mapmaker, who pasted a map onto a wooden board and cut out the shapes of the countries with a jigsaw.[2]
Initially used to teach geography, Spilsbury’s idea caught on and evolved from map-based images to interlocking images of animals, historical images and other things around the mid-1800s, and really took off in the 1930s; thought to be popular as they were reusable as well as entertaining.[3]
What is sensory integration and why does it matter for your toddler?
Sensory development is perhaps something we don’t think about as often as other aspects of our children’s learning. This development is important for so many things your toddler does now and will do in the future. Our senses help us read and write, move, and respond to our emotions (among other things) and developing these skills is not just about hearing better, seeing better, or noticing the sensations from our body, but also about how we bring the information from all our senses together to respond to what is happening around us.
What is sensory integration?
