Today Tile Triggered Content

Have you found yourself feeling anxious about the things your child might say in public? Perhaps you have experience of them blurting out their thoughts about other people’s appearance at the worst possible moment... This is almost inevitable but there are ways to feel confident in the way you respond.  

Children are inquisitive by nature, and learn through exploring, discussing and experiencing their world. They are also good at learning about what is familiar to them, and noticing differences, from a very young age – earlier than many people realise children are aware of physical differences between people.  

The subject of toy rotation comes up quite a lot in social media and during day-to-day conversations. It’s a concept that works well for some and not for others. We thought we’d take a look at exactly what it means, why people do it and some easy ways it can be achieved if you want to give it a go. 

Where did the idea originate from? 

Today’s generation of parents are more aware of the importance of good mental health and wellbeing than any other. You know that your toddler needs your calm presence when they’re overwhelmed – and you probably won’t be using the naughty step anytime soon! Does this mean you can’t let them know when you need some space? We’re here to tell you why it’s ok to tell your toddler you are having some time doing something else – and how to do it in a gentle and reassuring way. 

Your toddler learns a lot about the world, not from what you say but from what you do. They will watch you and copy your actions, whether that is pretending to make a meal, take a selfie or message a friend. They will also notice how you look after your wellbeing and respond to your emotions and copy that too.  

Do you ever feel the pressure to make sure your toddler is learning quickly, or that you need to be getting them ready for the next room at nursery, starting preschool or maybe even school? It can be hard to resist the feeling that you need to find ways to get your toddler to develop more quickly. Is sooner always better or could slowing down be the best for your toddler (and for you)? 

Professor of Early Childhood Education, Alison Clark is known by many early years professionals for her work on listening to children – finding ways to get children’s views and understand their experiences from their perspectives.  

As adults, we often zone in and out – sometimes actively choosing to just to get a few more seconds of peace and quiet (shhh – don’t tell anyone!). At other times, we think we hear everything that’s said to us, but we might be focused on something else and discover that someone has been talking and we simply haven’t heard them. 

In your toddler's case, there may be times when you think they're ignoring you deliberately, but more often than not, they will just be engrossed in what they're doing and genuinely don't hear you. Your toddler is learning to be able to stop what they're doing and switch their attention to listen and focus on what you are saying. And this is a skill that takes time to master. 

Stuck for ideas for meals and the time to plan them? Here are seven hacks to help you through the week! 

Make a note of what you have in before you think about meal planning 

We know parents have an important role to play in building children’s self-esteem – and your toddler is amazing (of course!), but is it possible to praise them too much and if it is, what can you do instead?  

Psychologists Eddie Brummelman and Constantine Sedikides have looked at how we develop our sense of who we are, and what parents can do that raises self-esteem (without encouraging narcissism).  

A wiggle here, a jiggle there, and pop! One arm is through an item of clothing. This is an exciting stage of your toddler’s development; here are a few ideas of how you can encourage your toddler to help to move their arms or legs into the right position when getting dressed. 

• Choose suitable clothing – looser clothes are easier for your toddler to wiggle around in and help push their limbs through. Tighter clothes might cause arms and legs to get stuck on their journey. 
• Enhance the experience using sounds – adding silly noises can make getting dressed and undressed a lot of fun. If you put a jumper over your toddler's head and their head pops through, you could say, "Pop!" Or you might make a long sound while their leg is making its way down a pair of trousers until you see their foot appear.  
• Find a comfy position for getting dressed and undressed – find a comfortable position for your toddler to sit in as you help them put on and take off their clothes. They may prefer to sit on a chair, a cushion, or simply on the floor. Encourage your toddler to sit in a way that is comfortable for them and lets them move freely; this might mean moving off your lap for some parts of the getting dressed process. As their level of independence increases, having this experience will help them. 
• Try getting dressed in front of a mirror – toddlers love looking at themselves and they might be able to see things differently if they can view what is going on in the mirror. 
• Think about fabrics – some fabrics feel itchy, or clingy, and this might discourage your toddler from wanting to put them on. Check for any labels which might scratch or irritate them.

Being a parent can be a bit of a rollercoaster ride. You might have the most fantastic day with your toddler playing and enjoying time together before a calm meal and bedtime routine. But other days it can feel that nothing is going quite right (for you or your toddler), which leaves you feeling worn out and simply too tired to play. These tips should help. 

Find some of your toddler’s favourite toys and make sure they can reach them – then stay close by and watch, offer a smile and some encouragement.  

Sharing stories with your toddler can build a love of reading, start a conversation or simply be a good way to relax together. But sometimes your toddler might be eager to turn pages, so you find yourself trying to read as much of the story as you can before the next page turn, or they might listen briefly then notice a squirrel outside and you’ve lost them! We have a few tips that could keep story time relaxing for you both.