All children love to draw and paint, but why do they do it and what can their creations tell us about them? Dr Helen Jones explores the meaning behind the art and explains how to help your child’s creativity flourish: Table of contents: Art is personal At the very earliest stages of evolution our forebears […]
What our children’s art can teach us Read More »
Dr. Helen Jones joins us to explore the Montessori Method, one of the earliest and most influential approaches to early years education. Table of contents: What is the Montessori approach? Why is the Montessori approach important? What are the five principles of the Montessori method? What are some typical Montessori Activities? Final word The Montessori
The Montessori Approach: an introduction Read More »
What are your childhood memories of Christmas? Do you remember the toys you got? Or do you remember the experiences you had? There’s only one toy I remember getting and that’s because it wasn’t the one I’d spent all year hoping for. 🙁 But that toy aside, when I think of childhood Christmases I think of sitting
The 100 Toys Guide to Christmas | Make, Bake & Sing! Read More »
“Every child is an artist. The problem is to remain one when we grow up.” Pablo Picasso Do you cheat when you do craft activities with your child? Do you ‘fix’ mistakes and tidy up the messy bits? How does your child feel about that? When we embark on a festive, creative activity with our
Easy Christmas Crafts Read More »
Is your child always calm and fully engaged in her play? Or does she flit from one toy to the next, rarely focusing for long? Have you ever considered that she might have too many toys? In a recent study, researchers at the University of Toledo discovered that too many toys can be distracting. At first
Do children have too many toys? Read More »
Is your child bored of her toys? Are you tempted to buy something new to add some excitement to the toy box? Before you take out the credit card, take a look at what you’ve already got. Can you help your child to see her toys in a new light, to see new combinations and
Increase the play potential of your toys Read More »
I’m watching my 3 year old daughter build a tower out of blocks. She’s totally absorbed in the repetitive process of selecting, stacking and balancing them to make the tallest structure she can. With no interruptions she narrates to herself as she plays within her own little bubble. I often wonder how this scene might
Lonely onlies? How to support an only child to play like a sibling Read More »
Have you ever said, “I’m rubbish at maths”, or “I can’t draw to save my life”. These negative beliefs affect your ability to overcome challenges. As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t – you’re right.” Psychologists call this self-efficacy. In this guide, Dr. Helen Jones shows us how to help our children
Self-efficacy: A tool to unlock your child’s potential Read More »
“In play, a child is always above his average age, above his daily behaviour; in play it is as though he were a head taller than himself” Lev Vygotsky, child psychologist When you watch your child attempting a task that is beyond their current capabilities (the nail biting moment your baby decides to cross the concrete patio for the first time or your toddler scales the kitchen cupboard)
Help your child to play Read More »
Why do children love to play with Maileg? Is it that the mice in matchboxes are just so adorable? Or is there something developmental going on? The world of Maileg characters is huge. From dancing bunnies and cuddly hippos, to doll’s houses and race cars, the focus is on gentle, small-world play, full of nostalgic
An Introduction to Maileg Read More »