Does rough and tumble play make you panic?
Have you noticed your child enjoying some rough and tumble, physical play recently? For lots of us it’s worrying as we worry our child will get hurt, or hurt someone else. From tickling games to superhero role play, and all kinds of games involving racing around and crashing into each other, children are often drawn to this type of play. But why? And should you be worried or stop it just in case it causes tears?
Rough and tumble is a way for children to playfully explore their bodies, boundaries and abilities.
Press pause and take a moment together and meditate together
Your child needs to move and will often be in motion as they explore their world and develop their brain, but they are also developing the balance and focus needed to keep their body still. Now they’re able to enjoy being still for short periods of time you could try having a moment of mindfulness together by meditating.
Meditation is a big concept, especially for a child, but at its core it means taking the time to be still and reflect.
Did you know, we have an area in our brain that is tuned into singing?
We all have loads of neurons that constantly send messages around our body and brain. Connected by synapses, the neurons help us do lots of things, like form memories, move, and create feelings. Scientists continue to find out more about the role of neurons and one study has been focusing on their part in processing the sounds we hear.
How does looking for a toy support your toddlers future reading skills?
Although learning to read is still a way off for your toddler, they are already mastering skills that lay the foundation for reading. Find out how visual skills, like finding a lost toy, will help when it comes to learning to read.
Developing control over their visual skills is an important part of your toddler's journey to being a confident and fluent reader in the future.
The benefits of touch and hugs are amazing – for you and your child
Touch is one of the first senses we develop, well before before birth.[1] It helps us learn about the world and feel connected with those around us. We express a variety of emotions through touch and it's an important part of developing relationships. When we hug someone, it is a sure-fire way of letting them know they are cared for and loved.
Hugs are great for lots of reasons – here are just a few!
How does searching for images help your child learn to read?
The first skills that may come to mind when you think about your child learning to read are likely those that are related to letter recognition or understanding letter sounds. However, reading involves many skills including visual ones, and that’s why picking out details in pictures now will help them as they learn to read.
When your child identifies specific details in a complex picture, they combine visual and cognitive skills.
How do your child’s senses help them to control their attention?
Attention and our senses are inextricably linked. When we control our attention to focus on something important, our brain needs to ignore other stimuli. Think about when you need to make a tricky manoeuvre in the car, do you turn the music off or down? This is your brain reducing sensory input to help you concentrate better. Your child is starting to be aware that they sometimes need to make a change to help them and their concentration.
Their senses help them to regulate their levels of alertness.
Why bouncing, rocking and swinging help to develop more than just balance
As your baby develops more control of their head and body and can hold their head upright, they might enjoy gentle bouncing, rocking and swaying games. As well as being a new way to play together, these movements will support your baby’s developing sensory systems.
To develop balance, we need to move
Did you know, we form memories of objects only using touch?
We often talk about how your toddler brings information from their senses together to understand the world. They might look at, touch and move a new object to learn about it, but scientists have found that we can remember an object by just using the sense of touch – and this happens even when we aren’t trying to memorise what the object is like!
When it comes to objects, we often think about what it looks like and rarely consider how touch might be part of forming a memory.
Fun fact – taking part in an obstacle course uses senses you may not have heard of before!
Obstacle courses are typically challenging, yet fun, for toddlers (well, all ages of children and adults!) They bring loads of benefits for overall development, encouraging problem solving and creativity as well as physical skills galore. Tackling obstacles also stimulates a number of senses; let’s delve into which ones and how...
Tactile sense – the sense of touch
