Talk or Sing About the Pictures: You don’t have to read the words to tell a story. Try “reading” the pictures in a book for your child sometime. Make It Personal: Talk about your own family, pets, or community when you’re reading about others in a story. Let Children Turn the Pages: Babies can’t turn pages on their own just ... Read More »

Needles are never pleasant but there are a few steps that might ease the ‘ouch’ factor: * For babies, cuddle them closely. Feeding before or afterwards can offer quick comfort. * For toddler and older children, give them notice of what will be happening. A surprise shot could lead to fear or mistrust around doctor’s visits. * Explain that they ... Read More »

Until they are one year old, babies should sleep on their back both during the night and during naps. This has been proven to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Make sure your baby has a safe sleeping environment. Use a fitted sheet on a firm, new matters. Don’t include any pillows, bumpers or stuffed animals in ... Read More »

Laugh a lot, Love each other, We’re family What do you like about spending time with your parent or carer?  As part of a programme to provide better supports to parents, we would like to hear from children and young people about what they value the most about spending time with their parents or carers. So, we are asking children ... Read More »

The reading process begins long before children ever walk into a classroom. As soon as parents and caregivers pick up a cooing baby and coo back, the reading process begins! Developing language and literacy skills begins at birth through everyday loving interactions, reciting nursery rhymes, telling stories, singing songs and talking to one another. Your child’s ability to speak and ... Read More »

Creative play is a type of play in which the child uses their body and a wide variety of materials to express themselves and their imagination. As parents we often have the tendency to dominate our children’s play by telling them what to do. It can be difficult to step back and let the child take the lead. It often ... Read More »