Introduction   Families come in all shapes and sizes and often change suddenly without warning (pretty much like anything in life). The term ''single parent'' is used in a negative fashion and is mostly directed at mothers and not fathers. However a separation of a relationship does not have to mean your a single parent you are just now a single person and co-parenting can become just as rewarding and successful when executed effectively.  Expectations  If you have suddenly found yourself in this situation or its something that has been on the cards for a while don't worry or stress ''the best is yet to come''  (although it probably feels absolutely awful right now).  You may have mixed feelings depending on who wanted the break up, if it was mutual, expected or non expected, this list can go on. First things first give yourself time to process your thoughts and feelings, you are allowed to be selfish and put yourself first at tim...

Introduction Finding out your about to  become  a mother for the first time can bring up a  variation of mixed emotions and leave you with unanswered questions.  Will I be good enough? What i f I can t cope? H ow can I get it right? . First of all congratulations .  The truth is your bab y need s  your love,  time a n d patience and these are the skills you will slowing  be developing and building on throughout each trimester of your pregnancy.   So breathe, relax and most of all enjoy this wonderful chapter in you r life.  What do babies need? There will be a long list of items you will be thinking about purchasing once you find out your are expecting. Before you baby is born its good to buy the essential items your baby will need so there is less pressure on you and so you feel prepared and in control. Essential items include; Nappies  Baby wipes  Formula (if not breast feeding)  Natural bath products and lotions Baby g...

Have you ever heard of the term, “Treasure basket”   before? Today we are here to develop  our understanding of this term and how it is associated with Early Childhood Education. Young children are born with curious minds and children love to explore the world around them. The greater the exploring opportunities, the better it is for young children. Treasure baskets are an essential play tool for young children. It is an idea inspired from a psychologist named Elinor Goldschmied.   Elinor named this type of play Heuristic Play and it turned out to become a formal term in the book, People under three: Young children in day care The book defines Heuristic Play as, “It consists of offering a group of children, for a defined period of time in a controlled environment, a large number of objects and receptacles with which they play freely without adult intervention”. It is a very simplified yet a thoughtfully planned idea that enables sensory stimulation in young children. ...

  The Triple Threat. Expedite a head start Introduction By combining three of the most evidently effective ways of improving a child’s IQ and cognitive ability, parents can equip their children with the confidence and competence to over achieve in all areas of life. These activities include teaching kids a second language a musical instrument and the game of Chess. All of these activities have been individually proven to help the brains functionality in many unrelated areas in both children and adults. These improvements have also shown to be long lasting I.e into adolescence and adulthood. By learning all three activities from a early age, a child will expedite a head start in life. These activities all engage both sides of the brain stimulating multiple cognitive areas of the brain simultaneously and allow for continuous learning and improvement.  How the brain functions The brain works like a muscle and therefore needs regular exercise. Different parts of the ...

A group of young entrepreneurs have taken up a monumental task for their first independent business endeavour. The founders of Nursery and Childcare Ratings Stephanie Downey , Kendall Gideon and Melissa Nelson have joined professional forces to create a business with longevity. www.nurseryandchildcareratings.co.uk  is a newly created website covering the whole of the UK; it allows parents to choose the most suitable nursery or childcare establishment in their area using a unique rating system developed by skilled industry experts. This is therefore thorough, impartial and highly comprehensive. The mission is to provide non-biased, factual, evidence based reviews on all nurseries in the UK. Stephanie a founding member said “Children are what parents live for! They are the most important part of their lives and are loved unconditionally’’ . This company acknowledges the fact that parents have to trust nursery and childcare establishments with both the safety and nurture of their ...