The Infants’ Home’s Team Share Their Top 10 Children’s Books
Reading with your child is about so much more than bedtime stories—it’s a way to spark their imagination, build their language skills, and create special moments together.
Supporting Communication from the Start: The Benefits of Speech Pathology in Early Childhood
The first five years of a child’s life are a time of rapid development, especially when it comes to communication and language. For some children, however, speech and language don’t always develop as expected—and that’s where speech pathology can make a big difference.
Safe Sleep for Babies and Young Children
Babies and young children spend a lot of their time sleeping, especially during the first year of life. There are some simple, evidence-based safe sleep practices that parents and carers can follow to support their child to have safe and restful sleep.
Supporting Children to Engage in Messy Play
Messy play has many benefits for children’s development. However, some children may be hesitant or have a sensitivity to some sensory inputs. Introducing messy play using a child-centred approach helps ensure they can engage in ways that are comfortable for them.
Managing Biting in Childcare – A Guide for Parents
Biting is both one of the most common and one of the most challenging issues that parents, educators and children themselves experience in childcare settings.
Water Play Ideas for Young Children
Water play, especially in warmer weather, is a fantastic way for young children to explore, learn, and have fun while staying cool.
Helping Children with Separation Anxiety
Separation distress or anxiety is a common and normal part of child development. It generally starts around six months of age and usually lasts until between two and a half to four years of age, although older children may continue to experience separation anxiety to some degree.
Helping your Child to Get Ready to Start School
While starting school is an exciting milestone for children and their family, it is also a big adjustment and can be a little daunting for all concerned. Fortunately, there are many simple things that parents and carers can do to help their child (and themselves) experience a positive transition.
Helping Children Manage Big Feelings: A Guide for Parents
Experiencing big feelings (or ‘tantrums’) is a normal part of early childhood development. Parents and carers play an important role in helping their child to manage their big feelings and to learn to self-regulate their emotions as they develop.
Slowing the Merry-Go-Round of Illness in Childcare
Unfortunately, childhood illness and childcare often go hand in hand, especially when children first enrol and are still building their immune systems. Good hygiene practices in their centre and at home and keeping children home when they are unwell can help reduce the spread of infection.
Find the Balance—Navigating Children’s Screen Time
While there are many guidelines for how much time children should spend on screens, these are not always practical in the modern age, and sometimes other strategies are needed to navigate this issue.
Small World, Big Play: The Benefits of Small World Play
Small world play offers many benefits for children’s learning and development. It helps children to process and learn about the world around them as they explore real and imaginary situations within miniature play settings.
Taking it Outside: The Benefits of Nature Play for Children
Nature play, in which children explore, play and learn in natural environments, offers many benefits for children’s learning, development, health and wellbeing.
Playgroups are for Fun, Friends and Support
Attending a playgroup is a wonderful way for children and their parents and carers to come together regularly in an informal setting where they can play, learn and connect with others.
Toilet Learning: Let the Children Lead the Way
Learning to use the toilet is a big milestone for a child. For many parents and carers, approaching toilet learning can be a little overwhelming. However, with patience, and by placing the child at the centre of the process, toilet learning can be an empowering and positive experience for all.