It can be difficult and overwhelming to deal with the pressure of doing the right thing for your child to help them develop and grow.
The good news is that one of the most important things you can do for your child is to just spend time with them - almost any daily activity is a chance to talk, bond and have fun with your child.
The BBC’s Tiny Happy People (external link) is a fantastic resource packed with ideas, videos and tips for parenting, offering advice on pregnancy through to children aged five.
Activities at home
Here's a round-up of simple activity ideas to do while you’re at home without spending a penny.
- 0-3 months - sensory fun, bath-time bonding and chatting to baby throughout the day are all great ways to help their early communication and listening skills
- 3-6 months - playing peek-a-boo, playing with teddy, exercise time and singing are all things you can build into your daily routine
- 6-9 months - a trip to the park, lots of chatting throughout the day and weaning your baby by introducing some solid foods are on the agenda around this time.
Watch videos on all of these suggestions and get play ideas for children up to the age of five.
Getting out and about
As well as building a strong bond with your child it’s also important for them to get confident in new environments and meeting new people. Even though it can sometimes feel like a battle to leave the house, it's often a great way of helping a parent’s wellbeing.
Young children love going to the park and a simple walk around the block can be made more interesting by giving them a picture list of everyday objects to find along the way. Collecting leaves, sticks and stones or spotting certain coloured cars and counting house numbers are great ways of preventing boredom and getting them to look forward to being outside.
There are also lots of groups across the borough for children of different ages and often they’re free or only a few pounds to attend - you may even find some with a snack or a brew included.
We've put together a list of different places you can go to for ideas:
There are new groups and events starting all the time - their social media is a great way to find out what’s on near you. Good starting points include: