Today Tile Triggered Content

Have you ever been told you need to do something with your baby to make sure they behave in a particular way when they are older or as adults? Writer Oliver Burkeman suggests that by focusing on the future you might miss the power of the present.  

Oliver Burkeman’s book, Four Thousand Weeks, is about life, not just parenting; but it can help us resist some of the pressure that often comes with being a parent.   

We love building blocks – they’ve been around for years, are brilliantly versatile and can support babies’ learning in multiple ways. It got us wondering when they first came into use as toys... 

When children earned their keep 

Being able to pick up and move objects now will eventually help your baby to hold a fork to eat and use a pencil to write! The ability to pick up and move an object to an intended location involves a very sophisticated process and is a skill that will come in handy for all kinds of tasks. 

Muscles and the brain  

Some meals go smoothly, and some don't; your baby needs lots of practice to master feeding themselves. The reality is that some days will be messier than others. And that’s ok.  

Independent eating can lead to messy mealtimes  

Teaching about consent can seem like something that is a long way off for our babies. But, in fact, you can start laying the groundwork for understanding consent from the very first year of your baby’s life, and continue to develop their understanding as they grow.  

Consent can feel like a very serious concept, but it’s something everyone should understand and be confident in both giving and respecting for others.  

Your baby might be beginning to play alone for short periods of time, and this can often be called playing ‘independently’. You might be wondering how they could be expected to play all on their own at this stage. But when we talk about playing independently, we mean your baby being able to play without you leading their ideas.  

This doesn’t mean that you won’t be there with them, especially while they are still at a stage when separation anxiety can be particularly common. You can encourage your baby to play independently while you are close by, and even while you are interacting with them.  

When your baby starts to explore the movements they can make with their bodies, they need lots of room. But this doesn’t just mean the physical space around them. It’s also important that they can move all their limbs freely, so try putting them in clothes that allow for this.  

Why does different clothing help? 

It is a myth that putting covers into your plug sockets makes them safer for curious hands. By installing these socket protectors, you compromise the sockets which can cause internal damage to the outlet and can pose a fire risk and increase your chances of getting electrical shock. 

British sockets have shutters that prevent children from getting a shock 

Baby walkers make a great gift for a young child, and while they’re a wonderful plaything, don’t be lured into thinking that your baby needs one to learn how to walk. 

Slow and steady 

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