Action for Children Chat and Play England

14/06/2021

Please use the eventbrite links to book or use the contact details on the poster.
Look forward to seeing you there 😀

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/worcester-chat-play-at-the-great-get-together-morning-booking-only-registration-157235685167

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/worcester-chat-play-at-the-great-get-together-afternoon- booking-only-registration-157249470399

04/05/2021

Have you watched the new series of The Baby Club on CBeebies? Did you know that you can now download the interactive Baby Club schedule?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/activity-schedules/zgvt7yc

Download our interactive activity schedule with links to Tiny Happy People activities.

03/05/2021

Fun activities and things to do with your child to help with their communication skills. Almost any daily activity is a chance to talk, bond and have fun with your child.

BBC's Tiny, Happy People page has lots of fun activities to try.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/activities/zjh8hbk

Fun activities and things to do with your child to help with their communication skills.

02/05/2021

When children start school they should be able to speak to their new friends in full sentences, ask teachers simple questions and understand what they’re told to do. When they have these skills they’ll feel more confident and they’ll be happier.

But children starting school all across the UK today are unable to do these things.

In England, 1 in 4 children starting primary school are behind with their level of literacy development (language, communication and literacy skills), rising to more than 1 in 3 (42%) in some areas (Department for Education, 2019). The picture is similar in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland too.

Language and communication skills unlock literacy, and that’s why Tiny Happy People is concentrating on the building blocks of language development.

Tiny Happy People can help you develop your child’s language and communication skills, so they get the best start in life.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/what-is-tiny-happy-people/z6c9y9q

Tiny Happy People can help you develop your child’s language and communication skills, so they get the best start in life. It's full of activities and things to do with your children to help give them the best start in life.

01/05/2021

Toddlers love to move around. All physical activities – whether it's walking, running, climbing, jumping or dancing – help their muscles, bones and brains develop. Ideally, they need 180 minutes of activity a day. But don't worry, it doesn't have to be all at once – 10 or 20 minutes here and there all counts towards the total. And all sorts of activity counts, whether it's indoors or outdoors. It's just about getting them moving every day.

https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/toddler/activities/

Keep your toddler occupied with our range of activities which are guaranteed to keep them entertained!

30/04/2021

How can we teach toddlers the language for their feelings, which helps them learn to manage all those stormy emotions? Learning about different emotions helps children recognize how they feel. It also builds empathy as they practice reading the emotions of others. By being able to identify basic emotions, kids will have the words to help describe the emotions they see in their world.

https://www.powerfulmothering.com/activities-to-teach-emotions-to-kids/

Simple, fun and free activities for preschoolers and toddlers to learn all about emotions and expressions!

29/04/2021

A recent survey revealed parental loneliness continues to rise during the pandemic from 38 per cent before the emergence of Coronavirus to 55 per cent in the latest lockdown. Half of parents with children under five say they have no one to ask for help.
As the coronavirus crisis persists, families will continue to find things tough – financially, socially and emotionally. Many parents or carers of really little ones have never felt more isolated.

https://inews.co.uk/opinion/parental-loneliness-floella-benjamin-little-good-deed-857215

I know we can’t offer to babysit the kids, arrange a day out or invite them round for dinner, but there are other ways to reach out

28/04/2021

A loneliness epidemic is sweeping the nation, with research showing that many adults feeling lonely some of the time. First time mums are particularly affected, more so over the last year due to lockdowns. Now that groups etc are starting up again, opportunities to meet other mums will start to increase.

https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/parenting/a28578/lonely-parent-mum-dad/

And we need to talk about it

27/04/2021

It might seem obvious, but babies love to feel your touch. It makes them feel calm and secure and helps them to bond with you.

But did you know that it benefits their health and development too?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/amazing-babies-mini-hugs/z4k9cqt

Your baby loves cuddles, but did you know the science behind cuddling and babies' development? Learn more in this short animation.

26/04/2021

Have you used Parent Talk? Parent Talk is a digital service provided by Action for Children.
From March 2020 to September 2020, 240,000 parents used Parent Talk, an increase of 430% on the same period in 2019.
Parent Talk offers free, down-to-earth advice for parents of children aged 0-19 online across the UK. You can browse online articles on the most common parenting questions or you can talk 1:1 via live chat with a qualified parenting coach about anything that's worrying you.
https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/how-we-can-help/our-local-services/find-our-services-near-you/parent-talk/

Parent Talk offers free, down-to-earth advice for parents of children aged 0-19 online across the UK. We’re on hand to support you when you need us.

23/04/2021

Following on from yesterday's post:

3. Feeling judged by others can make a bad situation worse.
70% of parents feel judged by others and among these parents, nearly half feel this negatively impacts their mental health.
4. People have been separated from family and friends during the pandemic and at the same time parental loneliness has dramatically increased. Disturbingly, people are also less willing to seek help for how they’re feeling.
Parental loneliness has dramatically increased during the pandemic from 38% before to 63% as parents have been cut off from friends and family. The increase in loneliness for parents is more apparent in the most deprived areas. These parents are more than twice as likely as those living in the least deprived areas to say they feel lonely often or always (13% compared with 5%). Compounding this, it seems there has been a rise in the proportion of parents who feel uncomfortable seeking help for how they are feeling from 18% before the pandemic to 34% during it.

5. During the COVID-19 pandemic, support from local communities has substantially increased for many - but not for all.
Across the UK, communities have united powerfully to meet the challenge of unprecedented times. 40% of parents feel that community support has grown. However, parents in the most deprived areas are less likely to have experienced this increased support (33%) than elsewhere.

These insights highlight the need to help people understand the importance of the early years and suggest that parents and carers need more support and advice to ensure good mental health and wellbeing as they raise young children.

You can read the full report here:
https://royalfoundation.com/programme/early-years/

Early Years - The Royal Foundation is the primary philanthropic and charitable vehicle for The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, driven by a desire to make a difference.

22/04/2021

The 5 Big Insights (from the Duchess of Cambridge 5 Big Questions survey)

1. People overwhelmingly believe that a child’s future is not pre-determined at birth. However, most people don’t understand the specific importance of the early years.
Answering the 5 Big Questions, 98% of people believe nurture is essential to lifelong outcomes, but just one in four recognise the specific importance of the first five years of a child’s life.

2. The reality of life makes it hard for parents to prioritise their wellbeing.
90% of people see parental mental health and wellbeing as being critical to a child’s development, but in reality people do very little to prioritise themselves. Only 10% of parents mentioned taking the time to look after their own wellbeing when asked how they had prepared for the arrival of their baby. Worryingly, over a third of all parents (37%) expect the COVID-19 pandemic to have a negative impact on their long-term mental wellbeing.

We will cover the remaining 3 questions tomorrow..

21/04/2021

Thank you to everyone that joined our buggy walks yesterday, we hope you enjoyed it as much as as we did!. Looking forward to seeing you next week and hopefully the weather be will lovely like yesterday 😀
Please call or message us if you would like to join us, you will be made to feel very welcome 😊

21/04/2021

The Duchess of Cambridge has announced the results from her landmark public survey on the early years, ‘5 Big Questions on the Under Fives’
Taken together, these studies have generated 5 Big Insights which we will be looking at over the next few posts...

20/04/2021

Will you and your child be participating in ? Our mission is to make sure that every child in the UK has a safe and happy childhood.

This starts with making sure their voices are heard.

https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/thebigask/

This is your chance to have your say on the things that matter to you. You can tell us what your life is like, what you want in the future, and anything you think is holding you back.

19/04/2021

How can I cope with feelings of parental loneliness?

People of all ages are feeling the impact of loneliness at the moment. Covid-19, the lockdowns and the tier system have left many of us cut off from family and friends.

There are many different reasons you might be feeling lonely as a parent or carer. New parents may have been unable to access the usual groups, family, and friends to support them.

You may have experienced the loss of a partner or loved one, or the end of a relationship. Many single parents have found it tough to access their normal support network. And some working parents have had to spend time working from home, or been furloughed. Self-isolation and restrictions can rule out leaving the house or meeting friends.

Whatever the reason for any feelings of loneliness, there are lots ways to look after yourself. Here are some ideas for coping with those low moments:
https://parents.actionforchildren.org.uk/mental-health-wellbeing/parental-loneliness/

There are many different reasons parents and carers might be feeling the impact of loneliness at the moment. Here are some ideas for looking after yourself.

19/04/2021

Want to get the kids enjoying cooking? Here are easy recipes to get your kids having fun in the kitchen without breaking out the sugar.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/10_easy_recipes_for_kids

Want to get the kids enjoying cooking? Here are easy recipes to get your kids having fun in the kitchen without breaking out the sugar.

18/04/2021

Cooking with toddlers or kids can be fun, educational, and even help them learn to eat new foods.

No matter what age your child is, concepts are learned experimentally during cooking. Whether your cooking with a toddler that’s being exposed to different colors and shapes, or with an older child that is learning fractions and the science that happens right before their eyes, cooking has the power to teach. You’ll be surprised at the learning opportunities that present themselves!
https://yourkidstable.com/cooking-with-toddlers/

Cooking with toddlers or kids can fun, educational, and even help them learn to eat new foods. Get a list of inspiring recipes and tips to keep your sanity!