Guest Authors

Well, the answer is my son’s book: “My Mummy is Autistic”, which he wrote just after his 5th birthday during his first-ever summer holiday from school. When it was published, one of the reporters who visited our garden to interview him asked “Do...

The problem‭:‬‭ ‬ So many adults working with children forget what it was like to be a child, and can’t always remember what it was about the teacher that captured their attention when they were very little. Having trained practitioners and...

“We want our kids to develop the skills to pick themselves up when they fall, to know when to ask for help, but also to be confident that they can solve a lot of their problems themselves.” (1) Risk, what does it mean to you? Do you watch every...

In June we celebrated Pride Month, when many countries around the world celebrate LGBTQIA+ and promote their rights. In the UK, some Pride marches were postponed due to coronavirus, but that didn’t mean we had to halt our smaller celebrations!  ...

Many songs are written about and inspired by relationships. From classical to pop, hip-hop to RnB, first loves, unrequited loves, and ending loves dominate the lists. It is not clear whether this is because songwriters are more inspired by...

Other people sense different things This article is the fourth article in a series of six from Sensory Engagement and Inclusion Specialist Joanna Grace, the activities described in each article build up to form a toolkit for celebrating...

Building self-esteem in children is crucial because it ultimately underpins their choices and decisions in life. If we believe we have worth and value, we are more likely to take care of ourselves and explore our full potential.  Here are 10...

We all know the richness that play can offer our children, but some of us might not feel overly confident facilitating playful moments. This is no surprise, as playing in adulthood is not our priority. We’ve got bills to pay, work to do, washing...

Other people are different on the inside This article is the third article in a series of six from Sensory Engagement and Inclusion Specialist, Joanna Grace, the activities described in each article build up to form a toolkit for celebrating...

‘Gender equality is a human fight, not a female fight.’ - Frieda Pinto Last month we looked at violence and how a collaborative effort in the early years can transform stereotypical attitudes and behaviour in boys, and help reduce violence...

After a few stand-offs with my toddler, trying to force him to say ‘sorry’ (for walloping his sister around the head with a toy and calling her ‘poopy head’), I decided to take a step back and actually question my approach.  Through my business,...

If there’s one simple word that strikes fear into the heart of both parents and carers, it has to be the word “tantrum”. After all, they are almost impossible to avoid, difficult to understand, and in the heat of the moment, can be hard to...

Children are fascinated with the natural world and gladly spend hours watching (and trying to play with) the creatures and environments around them – usually when we least have time! By creating opportunities for children to explore insects,...

Unfolding a loving pedagogy I wonder why you began working with young children? For me, it was because of my connection and ability to bond with them. From an early age, I seemed to be a magnet for younger children, I remember looking after them...

Avoiding the comparison of children and responding in a developmentally-appropriate way I found myself reflecting on child development and peer pressure recently and thought back to when I used to run a toddler group in my local community. As...

In part 2 of this article, I will be talking about the use of language and sensory items but am approaching this from my experience as a movement and dance teacher.  Did you know that the language we use in movement sessions can have a profound...

When children are met with difficult emotions such as grief, sadness, anger or worry, our natural default is to try and protect them. We might do this with distraction, changing the subject or bribing them with sugary foods. This may work as an...

‘Education is the most powerful weapon with which to change the world.’ - Nelson Mandela There is an uncomfortable truth that violence against women affects one third of all women in their lifetime. The cost of this in lost lives is immeasurable...

We are different on the inside This article is the second article in a series of six from Sensory Engagement and Inclusion Specialist, Joanna Grace, the activities described in each article build up to form a toolkit for celebrating difference...

This area of the early years curriculum involves children describing their environment using stories, non-fiction books and maps. Most religious and cultural celebrations can be introduced and shared at the appropriate time of year, like Chinese...

What is Birth to 5 Matters? Birth to 5 Matters is non-statutory guidance which supports early years practitioners in implementing the Early Years Foundation Stage. It has updated the previous Development Matters document to include recent...

Storybooks are powerful and can be a great support to children in unfamiliar and uncertain times. They also give children the opportunity to learn about moral concepts that they might not necessarily be presented with in their normal, day-to-day...

Because there is so much to think about ensuring movement is available for all children, this month, I will cover ‘making movement engaging for all children’ and next month, I will look at sensory activities. My experiences I have spent many...

Adjusting to the next ‘new normal’ I was interested to read an article on LinkedIn by Simon Barrington recently which suggested that we need to be ready for ‘Reverse Culture Shock’ as we exit lockdown. I’ve heard of a culture shock before – the...

Raising children involves sharing our everyday experiences with them. We gradually introduce them to situations which they may face one day, providing them with skills for independent, successful lives. By relating to children’s everyday...

This article is the first article in a series of six from Sensory Engagement and Inclusion Specialist, Joanna Grace, the activities described in each article build up to form a toolkit for celebrating difference and neurodivergence within your...

All too often we see responsibility as something children will automatically acquire as soon as they are old enough. However, responsibility is a complex process. It is not simply about being old enough or independent enough. Responsibility is...

Here are 6 things that I believe children need to learn in order to step into being their best self… 1. To accept imperfections and failure  Failure is a part of success and imperfect moments give us an opportunity to learn and grow. People who...

It is fascinating that so many people in early years settings say they lack self-confidence. A trusted colleague once said that although early years is a safe place where skilled adults enable children to grow and flourish, so often these highly...

Not getting done what you need to do? Too busy to do the important things? The subject of procrastination often surfaces in coaching conversations – when people are just not getting done what they need to do. This case study might help you raise...