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23 January 2019
Fighting the January Blues
With the December festivities over, the demands of work increasing and family and friends hibernating from the cold, January can be a tricky and potentially lonely month. It has a different impact on everyone and whilst some launch themselves into the New Year full of hope and excitement, others find the dark mornings and evenings difficult and struggle to motivate themselves to have fun. Taking a proactive approach against the negative elements is the only way to blast through the winter into spring.
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23 January 2019
Sleep Training Strategies
Sleep training is widely discussed amongst parents, carers and nannies and can often be a daunting but necessary consideration. However, as with anything child-related, there are no definitive guidelines and, instead, a range strategies to choose from that require patience and consistency. Deciding which strategy works for you, the family and the baby is a personal choice and will depend on many factors. Make sure you are ready to commit to whatever you decide and stick at it.
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05 February 2019
Speech and Language – Look who’s talking now!
Communication is key in any relationship and it is no different between a child and an adult. However, deciphering what a young child means and responding in a clear and simple manner can sometimes present a challenge. Helping an older child to continue their language journey is important but how do you know which strategies will help?
From a very early age, babies learn to communicate with their parents and carers. Crying is the first form of communication that informs us that they need something. When a child is approximately 6 months old, they develop the ability to babble and 6 months later, this turns into their first words. By the time a child is around 24 months old, they will be stringing words together. -
05 February 2019
Terrible Twos!
Torturous tantrums and embarrassing episodes are a natural part of raising or caring for a toddler. These little outbursts are actually a positive sign that the child is developing feelings and thoughts of their own. Whilst this is all very well, it does not help when you are in the supermarket carpark with bags and a bawling baby. So what can you do to help the situation and survive the terrible twos?
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18 February 2019
Half Term Adventures!
Half term is here and your little charges are ready for a break from school and are hoping for some time to relax, have fun and refuel. For you, this means entertaining these energetic bundles and keeping them busy. So what activities keep children occupied and engaged through their half term holidays? From museums to parks to treasure trails, it’s time to get outside, hope the sun shines and let the adventures begin..
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26 February 2019
Helpful Advice or Careless Criticism?
In today’s society, judgement is everywhere. Whether this is in the form of a look from a stranger, a throwaway comment from a friend or open criticism from a co-worker, it is something that we all have to face and it can sometimes be hard not to take these things to heart. Realising the skill set that you have and accepting that every child will work and behave differently is the first step to coping with this criticism; knowing which bits of advice to listen to and which to ignore is the second step – so how do you cope with all of this?
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26 February 2019
Identifying and Coping with Allergies
Allergies can be alarming and sometimes life threatening. They can appear out of nowhere, vary in severity and force you to act quickly. Therefore, understanding a charge’s allergies is crucial when ensuring their safety.
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27 February 2019
Weaning Part 1 - Top tips for getting started!
Weaning a baby from breast milk or formula to solids is an exciting stage in their development. It can be a colourfully chaotic, hilariously messy and frantically frustrating process that allows a baby to explore different tastes and textures, awakening all of the senses to the world of flavours. Milk will still be their main source of nutrients for the next few months but this is the beginning of a wonderful transition.
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04 April 2019
The Importance of Being Exercised
In our fast-paced, technologically enthused and culinary diverse society, we are presented with more challenges when it comes to keeping our little people active, healthy and fit. Whilst some children love to run around and play outside, others try to avoid it at all costs and require a little more motivation. So, why is exercise so important and how do you encourage little ones to get involved.
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05 April 2019
Eco-friendly World for Children
Being more eco-friendly and having a greater awareness of our actions and their implications on our world has become a hot topic. Whether we are considering our day-to-day habits or making more serious changes to our lifestyles, it is time to make the alterations that we can to help our environment, ensuring that we leave the world in a healthy state for future generations.