Parent or climbing frame? Why physical play is great and what to do when you need a break
Your toddler loves you, and might have their own way of showing it – so as well as hugs and kisses (great) you might feel your toddler is using you as a climbing frame (fun sometimes... maybe?)!
Your toddler wanting to climb, bounce and swing on you might not feel like a good thing (and we will get to why it’s ok to say, ‘No,’ sometimes, too) but we think it can be great – at the right moment and in the right way.
How you, and the world around them, help your toddler to become a confident walker
When we think about our toddler becoming a confident walker, our focus is probably on their muscles getting stronger or their movements being more coordinated. Some scientists suggest that we shouldn’t think about the development of movement without thinking about the world around your toddler.
The development of movement depends on environment – and your toddler learns more about the environment when they can move (this is known as the development systems view).
Why turning a page in a book is not as simple as it looks
Your toddler might already be a master page turner – but sometimes toddlers, in their enthusiasm to turn the page, can be a bit rough. If you’re wondering why your toddler can’t just turn the page carefully it might be interesting to know the skills that go into getting to the next page.
Turning a page in a book or magazine is not something we think about unless we come across a couple of pages that are stuck together or we’re looking at a particularly delicate or precious book.
Space, secret hideaways, science and your toddler!
The world is an exploration wonderland, especially for toddlers. They love seeking out spaces to crawl into, or places where they can cover themselves and hide... just a special place for them and no one else. As your toddler's body awareness grows, they might enjoy finding a space to squeeze into.
Your toddler is becoming increasingly aware of their position in the environment
How repeated movements help your toddler learn, and stay safe
While your toddler’s brain is still growing, creating repetitive movements, or patterns of movement, helps them to make connections about their world. These connections support them to predict what might happen during movement and understand how their body can respond, which in turn helps create a feeling of safety.
Patterns of movement can be seen in everyday play; you probably created some when you rocked and swayed your toddler when they were a baby.
How do you like to go up in a swing, up in the air so blue? A poem for the park
Poems can be the perfect way to capture a feeling, and we love how this one makes us smile with the reminder of that rush of joy that a swing brings. Short enough for you to share with your toddler, enjoy this rhyme before your next trip to the park.
This sweet rhyme from Scottish poet Robert Louis Stevenson may have been written over 200 years ago, but it proves the feeling of freedom that comes with swinging back and forth is timeless.
It takes more than movement to pick up a teddy
A lot of research has been carried out in recent years into how hands move, and this is all thanks to the development of robotics! It shows there is much more to the human grasp than just the movement of hands.
Different grasps for different tasks
Handwashing facts – why you'll think twice about a 'quick rinse' from now on!
As parents and carers, we're forever telling our children to make sure they've washed their hands properly. We have delved deep into the subject of handwashing to find some interesting facts for you and remind ourselves why a quick rinse just won't wash it!
- Handwashing practices began in medical institutions in the mid 1800s. Before then, doctors and medics would wash their hands with soap and water but not use any form of antiseptic. Many patients became seriously ill due to doctors having contaminated hands.[1] Today, handwashing practice is well established, saving the lives of many.
- According to Tri Living Well, the number of germs on your fingertips doubles after you use the toilet.[2]
- Florence Nightingale championed hand washing in army hospitals during the Crimean war.
- Remote controls, handbags and purses carry many more germs than you would like to imagine.
- October 15th is Global Handwashing Day. The first one was held in 2008. It was launched to help send the message that hand washing should be a simple practice and will make a difference and save lives.
- Drying hands is as important as washing hands. Bacteria that haven't been completely removed by washing could be kept on wet hands in a physiological state that makes them more able to thrive in a new environment.[3]
- According to Unicef, 40 per cent of the world’s population do not have a handwashing facility with water and soap at home.
- Washing your hands thoroughly can prevent the spread of some germs, helping to stop children from missing nursery and school.
References:
Have you ever wondered why your toddler spins and makes themselves dizzy?
Toddlers love to move and soon after taking their first steps they often seem determined to unsteady themselves again. They will seek out opportunities to make themselves dizzy by spinning or tipping upside down, or to challenge their balance with swinging or rocking.
Sensory systems
Pointing to parts of the body: why it's important
Your baby didn't know they had different body parts when they were born, but as time moved on, they became aware of their hands, feet, face and more. As they gain control over their bodies, they are more able to connect body parts to words. Let’s look at how identifying parts of their body will be an important skill for your baby in everyday life...
Language development
