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What is weaning?

Introducing your baby to solid foods, also referred to as weaning or complementary feeding, starts when your baby is around 6 months old.

Your baby should be introduced to a varied diet, alongside their usual breast milk or first infant formula.

It can be confusing knowing when and how to start introducing solid foods. We're here to guide you through the weaning journey and explain what it all means.

We've got expert NHS advice, helpful videos, tips from other parents, and lots of simple, healthy weaning recipe and meal ideas.

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Weaning means introducing your baby to solid foods alongside their usual breast milk or infant formula. We're here to guide you through the journey.

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To start with, your baby only needs a small amount of solid food, once a day, at a time that suits you both.

You can start weaning with single vegetables and fruits - try blended, mashed, or soft cooked sticks of parsnip, broccoli, potato, yam, sweet potato, carrot, apple or pear. You could also try baby rice mixed with your baby's usual milk. Make sure any cooked food has cooled right down before offering it to your baby.

It's important to introduce foods that can trigger allergic reactions one at a time, in very small amounts, so that you can spot any reaction. These foods can be introduced from around 6 months as part of your baby's diet, just like any other foods:

cows' milk (in cooking or mixed with food)

eggs (eggs without a red lion stamp should not be eaten raw or lightly cooked)

foods that contain gluten, including wheat, barley and rye

nuts and peanuts (serve them crushed or ground)

seeds (serve them crushed or ground)

soya

shellfish (don't serve raw or lightly cooked)

fish

Once introduced and if tolerated, keep offering those foods as part of your baby's usual diet (to minimise the risk of allergy). Read more about food allergies and what signs to look out for.

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Food groups

Include vegetables that aren't so sweet, such as broccoli, cauliflower and spinach - this will help your baby get used to a range of flavours (rather than just the sweeter ones like carrots and sweet potato). This can help prevent them being fussy eaters as they grow up.

Remember, babies don't need salt or sugar added to their food (or cooking water). Babies shouldn't eat salty foods as it isn't good for their kidneys and sugar can cause tooth decay.

Gradually increase the amount and variety of the following food groups - have a look at our baby weaning recipes and YouTube channel for inspiration!

Cook to soften them, then mash or blend veggies to a suitable texture for your baby - or give them as finger foods. Offer a variety including ones with bitter flavours:

broccoli

parsnips

peppers

peas

cauliflower

swede

spinach

green beans

courgette

asparagus

kale

carrots

avocado

butternut squash

cabbage

Mash or blend soft ripe fruits to a suitable texture for your baby, or give them as finger foods. Harder fruits will need to be cooked to soften them. Wash and remove any pips, stones and hard skin. Fruit includes:

bananas

blueberries

kiwi

oranges

apples

raspberries

mango

nectarines

pears

strawberries

pineapple

papaya

melon

peach

plums

These can be cooked, where necessary, and mashed or blended to a suitable texture for your baby or offered as finger foods. Cereals can be mixed with breast milk or first infant formula - or with pasteurised whole (full-fat) cows' milk (or goats' or sheep's milk) if your baby is over 6 months old. Starchy foods include:

potato

sweet potato

rice

baby rice

pasta

porridge

oats

oatmeal

cornmeal

maize

millet

quinoa

toast

bread

chapatti

pitta bread

This food group includes meat, fish, eggs, beans and pulses and is suitable from around 6 months.

As well as giving your baby protein, these foods contain other useful nutrients, such as iron and zinc, which are important for babies.

Eggs: Make sure you buy eggs stamped with the British Lion stamp mark. There have been improved food safety controls in recent years. So infants, children and pregnant women can now safely eat raw or lightly cooked hen eggs (as long as they have the British Lion stamp), or foods containing them.

If you have a severely weakened immune system or are on a medically supervised diet prescribed by health professionals, you should cook all eggs thoroughly. Read about the healthy way to eat eggs.

Protein foods include:

chicken

turkey

beef

lamb

pork

fish (no bones)

egg

lentils

beans

tofu

pulses, such as chickpeas

Pasteurised dairy foods such as pasteurised full-fat yoghurt and cheese are suitable foods for your baby from around 6 months.

Full-fat, unsweetened or plain yoghurts are a good choice because they don't contain added sugars. Whole pasteurised (full-fat) cows' milk, or goats' or sheep's milk, can be used in cooking or mixed with food from around 6 months old, but not as a drink until your baby is 12 months.

Smooth or lumpy?

To help your baby get used to different textures and tastes quickly, try moving on to mashed and finger foods (from purées or blended) as soon as they're ready. This helps them learn how to chew, move solid food around their mouth and swallow solid foods. Give your baby a spoon and let them try feeding themselves - you might need to stick a mat under the highchair though!

Babies take different amounts of time to get used to lumps, but it's an important skill they need to learn. Just keep offering them lumpy textures from around 6 to 7 months, and stay with them so you can be sure they are swallowing it safely.

Finger foods help get them used to different textures, they love picking bits of food up and feeding themselves - this is also good for developing their hand-eye co-ordination.

Did you know?

When your baby's had enough, they'll let you know by firmly closing their mouth or turning their head away.

What is baby-led weaning?

Baby-led weaning means offering your baby only finger foods and letting them feed themselves from the start (rather than spoon feeding them puréed or mashed foods). You can offer a range of small, finger-sized pieces of food.

Some parents prefer baby-led weaning to spoon feeding, while others combine a bit of both. There's no right or wrong way - the most important thing is that your baby eats a wide variety of food and gets all the nutrients they need.

Should I still give my baby breast milk or first infant formula?

Yes. To begin with they will still be getting most of their energy and nutrients from breast milk or first infant formula. Breast milk or first infant formula should be their main drink during the first year, you can continue breastfeeding for as long as you both want. Remember your baby's tummy is tiny and fills up quickly - so offer milk feeds after solids.

Drinks?

During meal times, offer your baby sips of water from an open or free-flow cup. Using an open cup, or a free-flow cup without a valve, will help your baby learn to sip and is better for your baby's teeth.

If your baby is younger than 6 months, it's important to sterilise the water by boiling it first and then letting it cool right down.

Sweet drinks like squash, fizzy drinks, milkshakes and fruit juice can have lots of sugar, so avoid these to help prevent tooth decay - even baby and toddler drinks can be sugary.

Cows' milk is not a suitable drink until your baby is 12 months old, but it can be used in cooking or mixed with food from 6 months of age.

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Find out which food groups you should include in your baby's diet

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To start with, your baby only needs a small amount of solid food, once a day, at a time that suits you both. You can start weaning with single vegetables and fruits - try blended, mashed, or soft cooked sticks of parsnip, broccoli, potato, yam, sweet potato, carrot, apple or pear.

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Safety for babies, including preventing falls, burns and scalds, choking and suffocation, strangulation, drowning and poisoning.

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Potty training information and tips from the experts to guide you through the process of getting your child out of nappies and into pants for good. Every child is different; they learn to walk and talk at different times and they learn how to use the toilet at different times too.

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Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework

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The standards that school and childcare providers must meet for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5.

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You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year).

If you get Tax-Free Childcare, you'll set up an online childcare account for your child. For every £8 you pay into this account, the government will pay in £2 to use to pay your provider.

You can get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as 15 or 30 hours free childcare if you're eligible for both.

What you can use Tax-Free Childcare for

You can use it to pay for approved childcare, for example:

childminders, nurseries and nannies

after school clubs and play schemes

Your childcare provider must be signed up to the scheme before you can pay them and benefit from Tax-Free Childcare.

Check with your provider to see if they're signed up.

If your child is disabled

You can use the extra Tax-Free Childcare money you get to help pay for extra hours of childcare. You can also use it to help pay your childcare provider so they can get specialist equipment for your child such as mobility aids. Talk to them about what equipment your child can get.

If your childcare provider is in an EEA country

You may be able to use Tax-Free Childcare to pay a provider based in a European Economic Area (EEA) country. Contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to check.

Eligibility

Your eligibility depends on:

whether you're working (employed, self-employed, or a director)

your income (and your partner's income, if you have one)

your child's age and circumstances

your immigration status

If you're working

You can usually get Tax-Free Childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:

in work

on sick leave or annual leave

on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave and you're going back to work within 31 days of the date you first applied

If you're not currently working

You may still be eligible if your partner is working and you get any of the following:

Incapacity Benefit

Severe Disablement Allowance

Carer's Allowance or (in Scotland only) Carer Support Payment

contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance

You can apply if you're starting or re-starting work within the next 31 days.

Your income

Over the next 3 months you and your partner (if you have one) must each expect to earn at least:

£2,379 if you're aged 21 or over

£1,788 if you're aged 18 to 20

£1,331 if you're under 18 or an apprentice

This is the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week on average.

You can use an average of how much you expect to earn over the current tax year if:

you work throughout the year but do not get paid regularly

you're self-employed and do not expect to earn enough in the next 3 months

Example

You're eligible if you're 21 or over and do not have a regular income but earn £9,518 a year. This is the same as earning £2,379 every 3 months on average.

If you're self-employed and started your business less than 12 months ago, you can earn less and still be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare.

If you have more than one job, you can use your total earnings to work out if you meet the threshold. This includes:

earnings from any employment

earnings from any self-employment

If you're both employed and self-employed, you can use just your self-employment income if this would make you eligible. For example, if you expect your average self-employed earnings over the tax year to be more than you'll get over the next 3 months as an employee.

Certain types of income will not count towards the minimum amount you must earn to be eligible.

These include:

dividends

interest

income from investing in property

pension payments

If you or your partner have an expected ' adjusted net income ' over £100,000 in the current tax year, you will not be eligible.

Your child

Your child must be 11 or under and usually live with you. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11th birthday.

Adopted children are eligible, but foster children are not.

If your child is disabled and usually lives with you, you may get up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16th birthday. They're eligible for this if they:

get Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Child Disability Payment (Scotland only) or Adult Disability Payment (Scotland only)

are certified as blind or severely sight-impaired

Your immigration status

To be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare, you must have a National Insurance number and at least one of the following:

British or Irish citizenship

settled or pre-settled status, or you have applied and you're waiting for a decision

permission to access public funds - your UK residence card will tell you if you cannot do this

If you have a partner, they must have a National Insurance number too.

If you're living in an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you (or your partner if you have one) might still be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if:

your work is in the UK

the work started before 1 January 2021

you've worked in the UK at least once every 12 months since you started working here

This is known as being a 'frontier worker'. You must show your Frontier Worker permit to the Childcare Service when you apply for Tax-Free Childcare.

If you get tax credits, Universal Credit, a childcare bursary or grant, or childcare vouchers

You cannot get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as claiming Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers.

Which scheme you're better off with depends on your situation. Use the childcare calculator to work out which type of support is best for you.

Tax credits

If you successfully apply for Tax-Free Childcare, your Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit will stop straight away. You cannot apply for them again.

Childcare vouchers

You must tell your employer within 90 days of applying for Tax-Free Childcare to stop your childcare vouchers or directly contracted childcare.

They'll then stop the vouchers or directly contracted childcare.

You may have to give HMRC evidence of leaving the childcare voucher scheme. For example, a copy of the letter telling your employer you're leaving the childcare voucher scheme.

If you have a partner who gets vouchers or directly contracted childcare, they'll need to tell their employer to stop this within 90 days too.

Universal Credit

Wait until you get a decision on your Tax-Free Childcare application before cancelling your Universal Credit claim.

Bursaries

If you or your partner get a childcare bursary or grant or expect to do so within the next 3 months, you cannot get Tax-Free Childcare.

Apply
Apply online for Tax-Free Childcare
If you apply for Tax-Free Childcare and someone else already gets free childcare for that child, their 15 or 30 hours will stop at the end of the next term. You will be eligible for 15 or 30 hours free childcare instead.

If you have a partner

You must include your partner in your application if you are:

married or in a civil partnership and live together

not married or in a civil partnership, but living together as though you are

Their employment and income will not affect your eligibility if they:

are or will be absent from your household for more than 6 months

are a prisoner

You and your partner cannot both have accounts for the same child.

If you are separated

You and your ex-partner need to decide who should apply if you are jointly responsible for your child.

If you cannot decide, both of you must apply separately and HMRC will decide who gets a childcare account.

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What Tax-Free Childcare is, eligibility and how to apply

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Guidance on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system for children and young people aged 0 to 25, from 1 September 2014.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

This statutory code contains:

details of legal requirements that you must follow without exception

statutory guidance that you must follow by law unless there's a good reason not to

It explains the duties of local authorities, health bodies, schools and colleges to provide for those with special educational needs under part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

The code, which applies to England, is for:

headteachers and principals

governing bodies

school and college staff

special educational needs (SEN) co-ordinators

early years providers

other education settings

local authorities

health and social services staff

Other SEND guides are also available.

Thank you for your feedback

Report a problem with this page

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Guidance on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system for children and young people aged 0 to 25, from 1 September 2014.

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Children must normally use a child car seat until they're 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first.

Children over 12 or more than 135cm tall must wear a seat belt.

You can choose a child car seat based on your child's height or weight.

Height-based seats

Height-based seats are known as 'i-Size' seats. They must be rear-facing until your child is over 15 months old. Your child can use a forward-facing child car seat when they're over 15 months old.

You must check the seat to make sure it's suitable for the height of your child.

Only EU-approved height-based child car seats can be used in the UK. These have a label showing a capital 'E' in a circle and 'R129'.

Weight-based seats

The seat your child can use (and the way they must be restrained in it) depends on their weight.

Only EU-approved weight-based child car seats can be used in the UK. These have a label showing a capital 'E' in a circle and 'ECE R44'.

You may be able to choose from more than one type of seat in the group for your child's weight.

0kg to 10kg

0

Lie-flat or 'lateral' baby carrier, rear-facing baby carrier, or rear-facing baby seat using a harness

0kg to 13kg

0+

Rear-facing baby carrier or rear-facing baby seat using a harness

9kg to 18kg

1

Rear- or forward-facing baby seat using a harness or safety shield

15kg to 25kg

2

Rear- or forward-facing child car seat (high-backed booster seat or booster cushion) using a seat belt, harness or safety shield

22kg to 36kg

3

Rear- or forward-facing child car seat (high-backed booster seat or booster cushion) using a seat belt, harness or safety shield

Manufacturers can now only make booster cushions approved as group 3. This won't affect any existing booster cushions in group 2 and you'll still be able to use them.

Fitting a child car seat

You must only use a child car seat if your car's seat belt has a diagonal strap, unless the seat is either:

specifically designed for use with a lap seat belt

fitted using ISOFIX anchor points

You must also:

deactivate any front airbags before fitting a rear-facing baby seat in a front seat

not fit a child car seat in side-facing seats

Children with disabilities or medical conditions

The same rules apply for children with disabilities or medical conditions, but they can use a disabled person's seat belt or a child restraint designed for their needs.

A doctor can issue an exemption certificate if a child is unable to use a restraint or seat belt because of their condition.

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The rules for child car seats and booster seats - height, weight, age, type of vehicle, car, minibus, licensed taxi

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If you live in England contact your local council to find:

You can also contact your local council to apply for places at state schools in other areas. You can search online to find schools in England.

Private schools or home schooling

If you're looking for a place at a private school (also called 'independent schools'), contact the school directly.

You can also choose to teach your child at home, known as home schooling.

Children with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan

If your child has an Education, Health and Care ( EHC) plan, it may name a school for them. A school named in the EHC plan must give your child a place.

Find out about a primary or secondary school

You can find out more by:

What schools must publish on their website

Schools' websites must include:

admission arrangements, including how to apply

details of the curriculum

behaviour policy

links to Ofsted reports

links to performance data

the school's latest key stage 2 and 4 attainment and progress measures

their special educational needs (SEN) information report, which includes information about their policies for children or young people with special educational needs and disabilities

the amount of money they get for taking underprivileged children (the 'pupil premium'), what they do with it and the effect it's had

You can also get advice about choosing state-funded schools from your local council.

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Get a place for your child at a primary or secondary school - applications, deadlines, admission criteria, appeals and complaints.

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password is Quadrant

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inourplace | Solihull Approach - Online courses for emotional health and wellbeing.

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inourplace | Solihull Approach | Online courses for parents

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inourplace | Solihull Approach : Online courses dedicated to improving emotional health and wellbeing in parents, children, teenagers, adults and grandparents.

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Lots of good reasons to get moving!

Kids need to be active for at least 60 minutes a day, with 30 minutes of this outside of school. This should include 3 sessions a week of activity that strengthens muscles and bones, so mix it up!

Research shows that physical activity can help school-aged kids in lots of ways.

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Activities for kids - Healthier Families

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Build some physical activity into your child's day, from 10 Minute Shake Up games to sports the whole family can enjoy.

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Information about health visiting and school health services.

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Get the kids moving with these fun games inspired by some of their favourite Disney characters.

These boredom-busting activities will help them reach the 60 active minutes they need every day!

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10 Minute Shake Up games - Healthier Families

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Get the kids moving with these fun games inspired by some of their favourite Disney characters. These boredom-busting activities will help them reach the 60 active minutes they need every day!

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0-19 Children's Public Health Service North Tyneside

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0-19 Children's Public Health Service North Tyneside. 2,101 likes · 17 talking about this. A team of fully qualified, professional staff supporting and working with children, young people and...

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All about how children express and process emotions, from toddler tantrums to childhood fears. Find loads of tips and advice on understanding children's emotional development, behaviour and wellbeing.

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Emotional development in children - BBC Tiny Happy People

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As children develop a vocabulary and more independence, they will experiment with expressing emotion in new ways. Find loads of tips and advice on understanding your child's emotional development, behaviour and wellbeing.

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MoneyHelper joins up money and pensions guidance to make it quicker and easier to find the right help. MoneyHelper brings together the support and services of three government-backed financial guidance providers: the Money Advice Service, the Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise.

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Free and impartial help with money, backed by the government | MoneyHelper

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MoneyHelper: free and impartial help with money and pensions. Formerly Money Advice Service, The Pension Advisory Service and Pension Wise.

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Helicopter Stories at Home for parents and carers of the children

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Helicopter Stories at Home is a BUY ONCE OWN FOR LIFE programme, containing all the training, information and resources needed

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Learning opportunities for children up to age 4

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65 video clips on everyday learning in early childhood

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Sharing stories, playing, reading together and making crafts - these activities from Words for Life will help your 3 or 4-year-old improve their speaking, reading and communicating skills at home. Support your young child as they practise their literacy skills and bolster what they are learning in nursery.

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Fun ways to boost your child's literacy skills.

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If you have a little one under 5 years old at home, then you've experienced what it's like to try to keep up with an energetic toddler or preschooler. But did you know that kids this age need three hours of physical activity a day?

Children between 2-4 years old don't only need a lot of movement, they also need a lot of variety of movement. This age group is ready to move in new and exciting ways! So while it's essential to make time for unstructured, active playtime, it's also important to have access to plenty of fun, simple activities that you know will help them get active and develop skills in many different ways.

This list of 57 fun activities for kids is the ultimate go-to for any playdate, home child care setting, or a morning or afternoon with a caregiver. Whatever the situation, short attention spans mean that it's a good idea to have a few of these up your sleeve.

1. Animal Walk

Inside or out, encourage your child to slither like a snake, hop like a frog, gallop like a horse, or walk like a bear on all fours.

2. Keep the Balloon Up

Outdoor on a calm, windless day, or inside, have your kids use their hands or half of a pool noodle to keep a balloon afloat. How long can they keep the balloon off the ground?

3. Puddle Jumping

Preferably outside in what our two year old called "chocolate water", throw on your kids' most waterproof gear and let them jump in, out, and over puddles.

4. Wet Sponge Designs

On a hot, summer day, gather up lots of sponges, provide a tub of water for endless resoaking, and have your kids throw their sponges on a wall or on a cement surface to make designs. Sponges can also be used to "paint" walls.

5. Digging for Treasure

Whether it's an inside or outside sandtable or sandbox, kids love to dig for treasure. Hide small toys like plastic dinosaurs, small cars, or marbles, and let your child release their inner pirate as they search for booty!

6. Run Away From the Monster

Kids love a game of chase, especially with a parent or other adult they trust. A game of running from a "scary" monster will involve much squealing with delight.

7. Simon/Simone Says

While the rules are simple, the options for movement are endless. Simon can have kids jumping like a kangaroo, standing as tall as a house, making funny faces, standing on one foot, or waving their hands over their heads.

8. Leaf Play

Not everyone loves the raking jobs that come in autumn, but kids love leaves. Rake them up and let kids jump into the piles, throw the leaves in the air, and crunch the foliage in their hands. If you don't have a garden or a tree, go for a walk and let kids make music as they crunch through the leaves on the ground.

9. Hopscotch

A favourite with kids of all ages, hopscotch is a game that can be played inside or out. Inside, use painters tape on the floor to pattern your own board and use buttons, rolled up socks or bean bags instead of rocks. Outside, use chalk to make a court and use rocks or the chalk itself as a marker. The rules [PDF] are simple and the game can be played alone or with friends.

10. Fly a Kite

Find a wide open space in a park, a beach, or a field, make or purchase a kite, pick a day which is breezy but not too windy, and head out to watch your child delight in running with their colourful toy.

11. Throw Snowballs

Snowballs are the perfect antidote for cabin fever! Have your kids throw snowballs against a surface to make designs as they did with sponges in the summer (see #4) or make a circle or other target in the snow and see how close they can get to a bullseye.

12. Ball Kicks

Balls are a staple for so many games and activities. Using different types and sizes of balls, have your child see how far they can kick, or play goalie in front of a wall or fence and see if your child can kick the ball past you.

13. Dance Party

Indoors or outdoors, turn up the music, use lights or decorations for ambiance, and let your kids twist, macarena, floss, dance like their favourite animal, or freestyle their way to fun.

14. Mini Sticks

Pass a ball back and forth with your child or have them shoot at a target while teaching them to keep their stick on the ice (the floor) and to hold their stick with two hands.

15. Bubble Play

Ideally an outdoor activity, use various sizes and types of bubble wands and have kids blow their own bubbles or blow them yourself and have kids chase and pop them.

16. Ride a Bike

Whether it's a tricycle, a balance bike, a bike with training wheels, or a two-wheeler, kids love to zoom around under their own steam.

17. Freeze Tag

If you've got a group of four or more kids looking for some fun, look no further than a good old game of freeze tag. Pick one child to be "it," and have them chase the other kids around. When "it" touches a player, they must freeze (stand still) until another player "unfreezes" them by touching them. When "it" freezes all players, the game begins again with a new child as "it."

18. Fill the Bucket Water Game

Provide your child with a cup and two buckets (one smaller, one larger). Place the smaller bucket a short distance from the larger bucket and fill the larger bucket with water. Have your child scoop water from the larger bucket and fill the smaller one. To make the game more challenging, put small holes in the cup or have your child dance as they move from bucket to bucket.

19. Paper Airplanes

There are so many ways to make paper airplanes at home. Throw them inside or outside and see how high they can fly, how far they can fly, or if your child can throw them through an object such as a hula hoop.

20. Avoid the Shark

Cover your living room floor (the shark-filled ocean) with foam floor tiles or towels (taped to the floor with painters tape) and have your child jump from one to the next without getting nabbed by a shark.

21. Bean Bag Toss

Bean bags are an easy-to-grip and throw item for kids. Indoors or out, have kids throw them into targets such as laundry baskets or hula hoops.

22. Egg and Spoon

For this ultimate hand-eye coordination and balance game, give kids a spoon and have them balance a hard-boiled or plastic egg from one point to another either indoors or out. How quickly can they go? Can they dance as they move?

23. Ribbon Sticks

Tie a length of ribbon to the end of a stick or baton and watch as your kids dance and swirl their ribbons in the air.

24. Pillow Walk

Set up a line of couch, throw, or bed pillows on your floor, and have your child walk from one end to the other. It may sound easy but their balance will be challenged!

25. Kick Bowling

Switch up regular bowling inside or outside by having your kids use different sizes of balls to kick down different objects such as empty bottles or rolls of paper towels.

26. Climb a tree

Pick a tree with low branches and let your child climb. Be close by for help but let your kids see how far they can get on their own.

27. Bean Bag Balance

Have your child balance a bean bag on their head and walk from one point to another without dropping it. As they master the walk, move the points further apart or make the course a bit more challenging by adding zig zags or circles, or objects around which they have to maneuver.

28. Jump Waves

Take a day trip to a local beach or lake and simply jump waves as they roll on to the shore.

29. Bubble Wrap Jump

Bubble wrap is not just for packing fragile objects. Purchase a roll of wrap and on an inside day, have your child jump and pop to their heart's content.

30. Helicopter

Turn a jump rope around in a circle low to the ground while your child hops over it without touching it. Be prepared to be the jumper when your child wants to turn the rope too!

31. Obstacle Course

Indoors or out, let your imagination run wild as you set up an obstacle course for your child. Have them crawl under tables, climb over chairs, jump over ropes, hop from cone to cone, crawl through a cardboard box, jump through a line of hula hoops, throw a family of stuffed animals into a laundry basket, etc. etc.

32. Hike

Get into nature and encourage your kids to climb hills, jump over sticks, and balance on tree stumps.

33. Neighbourhood Search

Prepare a list ahead of time of items to search for as you and your child leave the stroller at home and take a walk through your neighbourhood. Can they spot a stop sign, a blue flower, something with a tail, something round, a fire hydrant, etc.? Check off the items on the list or use your phone to take pictures to review later.

34. Jump in the Sprinkler

Set up a sprinkler in your yard and have your kids jump through using animal movements or dance through (singing along may cause hilarious water in mouth incidents!)

35. Catch

Kids learn to catch at different rates but working with them on the skill can begin with throwing them a balloon or a soft object such as a rolled up pair of socks or a light ball will be less intimidating than a heavy or small ball. Start by standing close to your child and as they master the catch, move further away.

36. Indoor Skating

Have your kids place each of their feet on paper plates, face cloths, or felt squares, and let them slide along like skating pros on hardwood or carpet. Turn on the music and let them skate to the rhythm!

37. Skating

Find your kids proper skates and a helmet and head to your local rink either indoors or outside. Fresh air and perhaps hot chocolate afterwards will make any skating time a great time.

38. Tee-Ball

With a plastic tee-ball stand, bat, and balls, kids can practice their swing indoors or out. Batter up!

39. Long Jump

Just how far can your child jump? Challenge them indoors by having them jump on lines made by painters tape on the floor or outdoors on grass or in the sand.

40. Yoga

Kids can learn all kinds of yoga movements at this age. Look for classes at your local community centre or yoga studio, or teach your children some movements such as a tree pose, downward dog, or sun salutation.

41. Tobogganing

The feeling of whizzing down a hill on a sled is unbeatable for kids. In order to make the activity last, though, remember that your child will not only slide down the hill but will also have to climb back up it. Keep the hill to a height they'll want to climb again and again.

42. Music Parade

Whether you have traditional instruments or pots and pans, kids love to make noise. Gather a bunch of kids and with different instruments in hand, celebrate a real or a made-up holiday while entertaining friends and neighbours.

43. Action Songs

Sing together or find recordings of songs that have kids moving their bodies in different ways. Hokey Pokey, Shake My Sillies Out, I'm A Little Teapot, and Zoom, Zoom, Zoom are all examples of fun ways to get kids moving and shaking to sing along songs.

44. Colour Run

This one is best done in a group! Gather three or four kids together and, on a driveway, sidewalk, or in a park, colour four areas (draw circles or squares) with different colours of chalk. Call out a colour and have the children run to that coloured area. Make it a competition and see who can get to it first! Continue to call out different colours in varying order.

45. Door Fringe

Purchase a door fringe from a dollar or party store or hang streamers from a door frame. Make sure no one is on the other side of the door as your child runs, hops, or dances through the fringe.

46. Beach Ball Blanket Toss

Have two or four children hold the corners of a blanket (or towel). Throw a beach ball onto the blanket and listen to the kids giggle as they bounce the ball up and catch it.

47. Hide and Seek

Kids can hide either themselves or objects such as their stuffed animals in this favourite game played by kids around the world.

48. Limbo

How low can you go? A fun game indoors or out, use your imagination when it comes to using objects under which your child must go under without their hands touching the floor. Objects could include a pool noodle, a broom, or a rope.

49. Outdoor Picasso

Get together some paint brushes or rollers of any size, fill buckets or paint trays with water and let your little artist's creativity go wild. Perhaps they'd like to "spruce up" your fence, a wall, a garage door or a sidewalk.

50. Snow Angels

Find a clear patch of snow and have your child lie on their back. Show them how to move their arms and legs like they're doing jumping jacks. And when they stand up and move carefully away ... voilà.

51. Squish and Walk

Amongst the games to play with 4 year olds at my kids' birthday party, this one was a huge hit! Find a ball that isn't fully inflated and have your child place it between their knees. See how far they can walk while keeping the ball from falling out. Can they run with it? Hop?

52. Pooh Sticks

A fun game Winnie the Pooh and friends loved to play, kids will love it too. Find a bridge and have two or more kids find sticks. Each player drops a stick on the upstream side of a bridge and the one whose stick first appears on the downstream side is the winner.

53. Shadow Catch

Find an open space on a sunny day and get ready to play a fun twist on the old standby game of tag. Choose one player to be "it." That person chases the other players and tries to step on their shadow. Once they've "tagged" that player's shadow, that person is now "it."

54. Golf

The game of golf can be played by kids in so many ways. Head to a mini golf course or even better, design your own at home inside or out. For a club, have your child use a toy golf club or hockey stick. Your home course can be as simple as using cups or bins on their sides to putt balls straight into. Make the course more fun by creating ramps out of cardboard boxes or obstacles to be putted around such as pylons or empty items from your recycling bin.

55. Stuffie Wagon Ride

Put out a wagon or sled for your kids and let them fill them with stuffies or other toys. Kids can take their friends for a spin around the neighbourhood or their own backyard.

56. Hill Roller

Whether you find a hill that's grassy, muddy or covered in snow, kids love to roll down hills! And run right back up them to roll down again.

57. Car Wash

Pull out your kids' bikes, ride-on toys, and any other items they can wash and prepare for some splashing good fun. Pour water into a tub (or tubs), provide your kids with sponges, cloths and scrub brushes and have them get cleaning! Balls, toy cars, plastic animals and any other toys which are waterproof can also be scoured.

Find more great resources and fun activities for kids:

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57 fun physical activities for kids aged 2 to 4

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This updated list of 57 activities offers plenty of fun and simple ideas that will help your young ones get active and develop skills in a variety of ways.

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I was a bit scared when we found out we were having a baby, obviously happy, but a bit scared and in the beginning I was a bit clueless. The child development part is my favourite bit, but there's things in there, like things about mental health, that I didn't know about and that I didn't know you needed to know about.

Ross, 22

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DadPad | The Essential Guide for New Dads | Support Guide for New Dads

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Developed with the NHS, DadPad gives new dads and dads-to-be the knowledge and skills needed to gain confidence and give their baby the best start in life.

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Teaching a child to ride without stabilisers - a how to guide for parents and teachers

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Your 2-year-old can get free childcare if you live in England and get any of the following benefits:

Income Support

income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments

the guaranteed element of Pension Credit

Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both), and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax

the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

2-year-olds can also get free childcare if they:

are looked after by a local authority

have an education, health and care (EHC) plan

get Disability Living Allowance

have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order

You may have to pay for extra costs like meals, nappies or trips.

Contact your childcare provider or local council to find out more.

If you're a non- UK citizen who cannot claim benefits

If your immigration status says you have 'no recourse to public funds', you may still get free childcare for your 2-year-old. You must live in England and your household income must be no more than:

£26,500 for families outside of London with one child

£34,500 for families within London with one child

£30,600 for families outside of London with two or more children

£38,600 for families within London with two or more children

You cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments.

Contact your childcare provider or check with your local council if you're unsure if you can get free childcare.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

There are different schemes in Scotland, different schemes in Wales and different schemes in Northern Ireland.

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Help with the cost of paying for approved childcare - Tax-Free Childcare, 15 and 30 hours childcare, childcare vouchers, tax credits, Learner Support.

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You may be able to get 30 hours free childcare if:

you live in England

your child is 3 to 4 years old

There are:

The childcare:

must be with an approved childcare provider

stops when your child starts in reception class (or reaches compulsory school age, if later)

You may have to pay for extra costs like meals, nappies or trips.

You can apply online for a childcare account to get a code for 30 hours to give to your provider.

How you can use 30 hours free childcare

You can get 30 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year (during school term time).

You may be able to get free childcare for 52 weeks if you use fewer than 30 hours per week. Check with your childcare provider to find out if this is something they offer.

Eligibility

Your eligibility depends on:

if you're working (employed, self-employed, or both)

your income (and your partner's income, if you have one)

your child's age and circumstances

your immigration status

You can get 30 hours free childcare at the same time as claiming Universal Credit, tax credits, childcare vouchers or Tax-Free Childcare.

If you are working

You can usually get 30 hours free childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:

in work

on sick leave or annual leave

on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave

If you're on adoption leave for a child aged 3 to 4 years old, you must return to work within 31 days of the date you first apply for 30 hours free childcare for that child.

If you are not currently working

You may still be eligible if your partner is working, and you get Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Limited Capability for Work Benefit or contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance.

You can apply if you're starting or re-starting work within the next 31 days.

Your income

Over the next 3 months you and your partner (if you have one) must each expect to earn at least:

£2,167 if you're aged 23 or over

£2,117 if you're aged 21 or 22

£1,557 if you're aged 18 to 20

£1,098 if you're under 18 or an apprentice

This is the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week on average.

You can use an average of how much you expect to earn over the current tax year if:

you work throughout the year but do not get paid regularly

you're self-employed and do not expect to earn enough in the next 3 months

Example

You're eligible if you're 23 or over and do not have a regular income but earn £8,668 a year. This is the same as earning £2,167 every 3 months on average.

If you're self-employed and started your business less than 12 months ago, you can earn less and still be eligible for 30 hours free childcare.

If you have more than one job, you can use your total earnings to work out if you meet the threshold. This includes:

earnings from any employment

earnings from any self-employment

If you're both employed and self-employed, you can use just your self-employment income if this would make you eligible. For example, if you expect your average self-employed earnings over the tax year to be more than you'll get over the next 3 months as an employee.

Certain types of income will not count towards the minimum amount you must earn to be eligible.

These include:

dividends

interest

income from investing in property

pension payments

If you or your partner have an expected ' adjusted net income ' over £100,000 in the current tax year, you will not be eligible.

Your child

You will not be eligible if your child does not usually live with you.

If you foster your child, you cannot use the online application to get 30 hours free childcare. Speak to your social worker and your local authority if you want to apply.

Your immigration status

To be eligible for 30 hours free childcare, you must have a National Insurance number and at least one of the following:

British or Irish citizenship

settled or pre-settled status, or you have applied and you're waiting for a decision

permission to access public funds - your UK residence card will tell you if you cannot do this

If you have a partner, they must have a National Insurance number too.

When to apply

You can apply from when your child is 2 years and 36 weeks old.

When your child turns 3

When they can get 30 hours from

Recommended time to apply

1 September to 31 December

Term starting on or after 1 January

15 October to 30 November

1 January to 31 March

Term starting on or after 1 April

15 January to 28 February

1 April to 31 August

Term starting on or after 1 September

15 June to 31 July

You can apply outside of these recommended dates but you might not receive your code in time. You must have a valid code by the end of the month before a new term starts.

Check with your childcare provider to find out the exact date your 30 hours free childcare starts.

You have to reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months. If you apply more than 3 months before the term starts, you'll have to reconfirm your eligibility in your account in order to keep your code valid.

Apply

Apply online for 30 hours free childcare.

If you are applying for 30 hours and someone else already claims Tax-Free Childcare for that child, your application will be unsuccessful.

If you have a partner

You must include your partner in your application if you are:

married or in a civil partnership and live together

not married or in a civil partnership, but living together as though you are

Their employment and income will not affect your eligibility if they:

are or will be absent from your household for more than 6 months

are a prisoner

You and your partner cannot both have accounts for the same child.

If you are separated

You and your ex-partner need to decide who should apply if you are jointly responsible for your child.

If you cannot decide, both of you must apply separately and HMRC will decide who gets a childcare account.

After you've applied

Once your application has been approved, you'll get a code for 30 hours free childcare to give to your childcare provider.

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Who is eligible for 30 hours free childcare and how you can get it.

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It's a good idea to keep children in the shade in the middle of the day when the sun is at its strongest - try and get into the habit of heading indoors between 11am and 3pm, or use a parasol or a play tent to provide some shade.
2. Use a good suncream
Make sure your little one wears sunscreen that covers any exposed skin - use plenty, and don't forget their shoulders, the back of their neck, the tops of their ears, nose and cheeks and the tops of their feet. Choose a sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 15, and at least 4 stars for UVA protection.
3. Keep topping up the suncream
Try and put sun cream on your child at least half an hour before heading out to play - remember that you'll need to put more on throughout the day, especially if they've been swimming or paddling.
4. Always pack a sunhat
It's a good idea for children to wear a floppy sunhat that protects their face and neck whenever they're out in the sun. Wearing a hat yourself can really encourage your reluctant toddler to follow suit - and hats with chinstraps can be very useful if your child likes removing their hat!
5. Drink lots of water
Give little ones access to water throughout the day, especially in warm weather. Encourage them to drink regularly - particularly when they've been running around.

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CBeebies House - Tips for staying safe in the sun

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Whether you're heading to the beach, playing in the park or out in your own backyard, it's really important to think about sun protection for little ones. Follow our tips on sun safety for kids and make sure everyone enjoys the sunshine safely when you're out and about.

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Find out how to protect your skin and eyes from UV sun damage, plus advice on using sunbeds and checking moles.

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Active Bump, Birth, Baby is a schedule of programmes designed specifically for pregnant women and new mams in North Tyneside.

Made up of a variety of antenatal and postnatal sessions, led by specialist instructors, all of the programmes are fun, friendly and most importantly sociable!

Each of them have been created to support and encourage mams (and mams-to-be!) to be active, no matter what stage of their journey they are on. There's also plenty of advice and tips on healthy eating - sometimes we even throw in a free snack for you and your little one.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch by calling 0191 643 7171 or by emailing active@northtyneside.gov.uk.

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Bump, Birth, Baby - Active North Tyneside

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Active Bump, Birth, Baby is a schedule of programmes designed specifically for pregnant women and new mams in North Tyneside. Made up of a variety of antenatal and postnatal sessions, led by specialist instructors, all of the programmes are fun, friendly and most importantly sociable!

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How much physical activity should children and young people aged 5 to 18 do to keep healthy?
Children and young people need to do 2 types of physical activity each week:

aerobic exercise

exercises to strengthen their muscles and bones

Children and young people aged 5 to 18 should:

aim for an average of at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous intensity physical activity a day across the week

take part in a variety of types and intensities of physical activity across the week to develop movement skills, muscles and bones

reduce the time spent sitting or lying down and break up long periods of not moving with some activity. Aim to spread activity throughout the day

What counts as moderate activity?

Moderate intensity activities will raise your heart rate, and make you breathe faster and feel warmer.

One way to tell if you're working at a moderate intensity level is if you can still talk, but not sing.

Children and young people should do a range of different activities across the week.

Examples include:

walking to school or walking the dog

playground activities, including jumping, running and catching

physical education

sports, like football or tennis

swimming

skipping

dancing

skateboarding or rollerblading

cycling

What activities strengthen muscles and bones?

Examples include:

gymnastics

football

jumping

martial arts

sit-ups, press-ups and other similar exercises (for young people)

resistance exercises with exercise bands, weight machines or handheld weights (for young people)

Exercising safely

Children and young people should:

get medical advice about exercising if they have a health condition

do exercise that is suitable for their age, ability and experience

start any new exercise slowly and increase it bit by bit

use protective equipment, for example for cycling and skateboarding

Young people can use weights for resistance exercise if a qualified adult trains them to use weights correctly and supervises them.

Physical activity recommendation for other age groups:
GOV.UK has infographics on physical activity for children and young people

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Physical activity guidelines for children and young people

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Find out how much physical activity children and young people aged 5 to 18 need to do to keep healthy?

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Get the kids moving with these fun games inspired by some of their favourite Disney characters.

These boredom-busting activities will help them reach the 60 active minutes they need every day!

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10 Minute Shake Up games - Healthier Families

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Get the kids moving with these fun games inspired by some of their favourite Disney characters. These boredom-busting activities will help them reach the 60 active minutes they need every day!

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10 top tips for parents to support children to read

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Short tips for parents of primary-aged children to make reading enjoyable.

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Milestones at three months old

By three months, your baby will have reached some exciting milestones. They will be making cooing noises, smiling, and even copying some of your facial expressions.

Babies like to look at faces and hear voices, so try to look at your baby when you speak to them. They will try to copy your sounds and expressions. When they do this, make the noise or expression back. This is how babies learn to communicate.

At this age, see if:

Your baby looks at you when you speak.

Your baby looks at your face when you speak.

Your baby coos or gurgles to themselves.

Your baby smiles or has different cries for how she feels.

By six months, your baby will be growing more curious about the world around them. They will try to copy you with babbles, facial expressions and movements. It's good to listen and respond to them at this age, as they learn to communicate.

Milestones at six months old

By six months your baby will love spending time with you and hearing your voice. Being face-to-face with your baby helps them learn about expressions. This is also a great age to play games like peek-a-boo or sing songs to your baby.

At this age, see if:

Your baby laughs when they play.

Your baby makes sounds when somebody speaks to them.

Your baby makes different noises to show different feelings, like when they are happy, excited, hungry or tired.

Your baby smiles when someone smiles at them.

Concerns?

All babies are different, and your baby will develop in their own way. If you are worried about your baby's development, speak to your Health Visitor or family hub. They may suggest a hearing test or a visit to your GP.

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By three months, your baby will have reached some exciting milestones. They will be making cooing noises, smiling, and even copying some of your facial expressions. Babies like to look at faces and hear voices, so try to look at your baby when you speak to them.

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One of the reasons children have accidents is because they develop so fast that Mum and Dad can't keep up! How many times have you heard the phrase ... "I didn't know he could do that"? There is a direct link between accidents and child development: Physical development - Their skin is thinner.

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For parents

Taking the first step and getting support can be life-changing for you and your family

Ideas, tools & resources that can support you

Exploring our website might give you new ways to understand how things are for you now – and how to create the future you want for you and your family. This might give you new ideas about starting conversations with those who can help and empower you to take action. We’ve also chosen some tools and res ources to share more widely, based on experience of working with parents through our own programme, For Baby’s Sake.  Thes e might help you deal with difficult situations, find support, make changes or build resilience in yourself or your baby or children.

OUR PROGRAMME

Starting in pregnancy, Fo r Baby’s Sake is for both parents. We work with you individually to break cycles of domestic abuse and give your baby the best start in life.

For Baby’s Sake could help you make changes in your life and end hurtful or harmful behaviour that makes you feel scared or bad, so you can feel safe, respected and good about yourself.

We won’t judge what you’ve done, experienced or how you are as a parent. Instead, we help you face challenges in your life and give you new ways to handle emotions such as anger and fear.

We help both parents create a positive future for your baby and any other children you have, even if you’re not together as a couple.

Our first priority is that everyone in your family is safe throughout the whole programme. We welcome introductions from your midwife or others supporting you. You can also contact us yourself.

We currently have four local teams in England and have created For Baby’s Sake CONNECT to support families living in some additional places where there is not yet a dedicated local service.

Both parents join For Baby’s Sake during pregnancy and your involvement may last until your baby is two years old. This is a really important time, when your child’s brain is developing and important bonds are forming.

We work with each parent individually, also focusing on your baby and any other children. At each stage of the journey, we provide support matched to the needs of everyone involved to help you as your child grows and develops.

Depending on where you live, sessions take place online using video technology and by phone, in your home and/or in a local venue such as a community/family centre. We arrange sessions at times to suit you.

For Baby’s Sake might be for you if:

You are expecting a baby

You both want the best for your baby and to be the best parents you can be

More than ever, you want to feel safe, physically and emotionally, and in control of your life

You realise your behaviour sometimes hurts or scares your family and you want to change

You want your children to grow up seeing a healthy relationship between their parents

You want to share the parenting of your baby, even if you’re not a couple or don’t live together

You experienced difficulties in your own childhood and want a better start for your child

"I felt like I was babysitting my baby - now I feel like a mum"

“I feel that I’m a lot less angry. Rather than hiding behind anger… I can actually communicate what’s going on internally a lot better”

"It made me feel proud of myself, and how well [my baby] is doing, and his milestones are building just by me interacting with him, and keeping him safe, and talking to him"

“It wasn't just the counselling around the relationship, it was also all of the help around raising [my baby]. We had a baby practitioner that we could call on and talk to about all of the things and all of the stages that we were facing.”

Our locations

For Baby's Sake Teams

We have four local area teams in England. In Spring 2021, For Baby’s Sake CONNECT was launched to offer the programme to families living in places without a dedicated local team.

Emergency contact

If you are in an emergency situation, please call: 999
For 24/7 domestic abuse support and advice phone the National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000247

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For parents Taking the first step and getting support can be life-changing for you and your family Watch the film Ideas, tools & resources that can support you Exploring our website might give you new ways to understand how things are for you now - and how to create the future you want for you [...]

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reducing parental conflict videos - Bing video

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Why do young children do what they do? Have you seen a toddler repeat an activity over and over again - tipping over the Lego box and emptying its contents on the floor, swishing the paint around in a circle, rolling their toy car over the uneven tiles and refusing to stop? It's actually all part of their essential brain development and is called a schema.

Find out more with our guide:

What is a schema?

"A schema is a pattern of repeated actions. Clusters of schemas develop into later concepts" (Athey, 2007).

Schemas are often described as children's fascinations. There are many different types. Sometimes the activities may seem a little strange or even irritating to adults, but to the child, it's a necessary step in their understanding of the world and themselves.

Each child is different, and some may display more than one schema while others show none at all.

Schemas can be observed, identified and understood by you as an early years practitioner and give you a better awareness of each child's current interests and ways of thinking.

What types of schema are there?

There are many different type schema and here are some of the most common:

Trajectory - creating lines in space by climbing up and jumping down. Dropping items from up high.

Positioning - lining items up and putting them in groups.

Enveloping - covering themselves or objects completely. Wrapping items up or placing them in containers.

Rotating - enjoys spinning items round and round. Likes to run around in circles or being swung round.

Enclosing - adding boundaries to play areas e.g. fences around animals. Adding borders to pictures.

Transporting - carrying or moving items from one place to another; carrying items in containers or bags.

Connecting - setting out and dismantling tracks, constructing, joining items together with tape or glue.

Transforming - exploring the changing states of materials, transforming them from a solid to liquid state and back again.

Orienteering - an interest in positioning themselves or objects in different places or positions e.g upside down or on their side.

Enclosing schemas

One of the nine different schemes includes enclosing.

A child will form enclosures either around themselves such as building a fence or boundary around their play area, or they may enclose items in boxes or other containers.

Through this schema, children are showing their interest in ordering and organising things and spaces. They may also be developing their underststanding of how things might get in and out of the enclosures.
"I find that enclosing is all about thinking how to make physical boundaries, both on a large and small scale. Resources do not need to be expensive; I am often on the lookout at charity shops, boot sales and scrap stores. I often put a basket of bricks alongside small world play so an encloser can create walls, fences, houses, hedges and car parking spaces. It's a simple way to encourage this schema on a small scale. A more physical activity may be creating various enclosures in the environment using materials, pegs, strings, crates and boxes. Providing new and interesting resources for free play enables a child learning through an enclosure schema the freedom to create their own area. In this way, the adult is facilitating the play rather than leading it. " Charlotte Greeno, Childminder.
Resources and training
Factsheet: Schemas
Our members' resource all about schemas, what they are, what they mean for you and a reflective task to try in your setting.
Schemas: creating connections in the child's world
Want to learn more about schemas and how to explore them with children and their parents? Read more in our blog from Dr Virginia Lumsden, a clinical psychologist working with children, young people and their families.

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What is a schema? Discover what a pattern of behaviour is and how to support, enable and develop children's schemas.

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