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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.

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  • Cognitive,
  • C35.2,
  • Child

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

6 min read Read Now
  • C8.2_potty learning

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

5 min read Read Now
  • FM7.2_potty

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

3 min read Read Now
  • GM17.5_potty training

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

7 min read Read Now
  • SEN1.4

The importance of touch for your newborn's emotions

3 min read Read Now
  • FM8.2_EC

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

3 min read Read Now
  • S-E13.1_potty power

Potty Power! Helping you prepare for potty training

5 min read Read Now
  • C2.1

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

1 min read Read Now

Latest Parenting Tips Posts

Parenting Tips
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  • Language,
  • Parenting Tips,
  • Toddlers,
  • S28.1

NO, that's not what I meant! How to navigate your toddler's changing understanding of 'no'

When your toddler first started using the word no, the meaning was probably clear: “I don’t want that,” or maybe “I don’t want to do that.” Now they are starting to use 'no’ with another word – and this is where you might need to take a moment to work out what they mean.  

Your toddler might say, “No cup!”  

1 min read Read Now
  • Fine Motor,
  • Cognitive,
  • Parenting Tips,
  • Toddlers,
  • FM27.1

Show me, tell me, let me have a go – what’s the best way for your toddler to learn?

You might think a lot about how your toddler learns new words and be conscious of the things you say to them (you might even have been tempted by flashcards, word books or tech that promises to teach new vocabulary). But how often do you think about how your toddler learns actions – do they learn from being shown, told, practising, or maybe a bit of all of those?  

You teach your toddler without even thinking about it 

3 min read Read Now
  • Play Ideas,
  • Parenting Tips,
  • GM26.2

Playfulness, you and your toddler

Your toddler’s playfulness is growing, but what about your own? We know that toddlers love to invite their most loved ones to play with them, and while you might be tempted to answer something like, “I’ll be with you in a minute,” let’s think about how play benefits you, your toddler and their learning. 

Dr Stuart Brown, a leading researcher on play, says that “We are built to play and built by play.”[1] 

2 min read Read Now
  • Parenting Tips,
  • C26.2

First Aid – what do I need to know?

Toddlers are very active beings – always looking for places to hide and leading investigations into who knows what! With their physical skills matching their curiosity, there’s bound to be an accident at some point. 

We never wish for any child to have an accident, but they do happen. We hope the bumps and mishaps your toddler has are small ones that can be dealt with quite easily at home.  

3 min read Read Now
  • Parenting Tips,
  • Sleep,
  • S-E42.1

Nightmares and night terrors – what’s the difference and how can you help?

Screams or cries in the middle of the night can be scary for everyone. We asked Lauren from Little Sleep Stars to tell us more about nightmares and night terrors.  

The terms ‘nightmare’ and ‘night-terror’ are often used interchangeably but they are actually very different occurrences. 

7 min read Read Now
  • Cognitive,
  • Parenting Tips,
  • C17.1

Helping your toddler to develop and learn – not just what you do, but the way you do it

In 2019, psychologists published results from a study looking at parenting styles and toddlers learning words.[1] While this study focused specifically on word learning, it can help us think about all your toddler’s learning.

Helping your toddler learn involves not only supporting their cognitive development, but also what researchers call ‘affective elements’ – which, put simply, is how your child feels.  

2 min read Read Now
  • Parenting Tips,
  • Toddlers,
  • S-E17.2,
  • Behaviour

Why your baby might seem to be manipulating you, and why it’s a good thing

Does your baby look at you and smile when they want another snack, or become extremely cute showering you with affection when they want to play for longer? This might feel like the start of your baby learning how to manipulate you to get what they want, but in reality, babies won’t have the cognitive skills for intentional manipulation for many years to come.  

Instead, this is your baby discovering how social skills can help them, and others, to thrive in the world.  

2 min read Read Now
  • Parenting Tips,
  • Baby,
  • GM7.4

Time for another home safety check?

Your baby’s physical skills are developing and soon they will be on the move, so now might be a good time to do another safety check. Look at the spaces where your baby plays from their point of view and check what they might be able to reach as they begin to move, so you can think about what you need to change.  

Be on the look out for small parts and button batteries 

1 min read Read Now
  • Social & Emotional,
  • Parenting Tips,
  • S-E30.3,
  • Toddlers,
  • Behaviour

Bodies, brains and emotions – why your toddler can't calm down without your help

We know toddlers can get overwhelmed at times, we all can when you think about it, but your toddler probably finds it more difficult than you do to calm again – and this could be explained by their brain development.  

What are executive functions and why are they important in emotions?  

2 min read Read Now
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