Parent Advice Feed
Emotional Regulation in Early Years – Movement, Play and Big Feelings
Supporting emotional regulation in early years settings is one of the most meaningful things a practitioner can do – and it starts with understanding what children are really communicating. Big emotions are a natural part of early childhood....
Dealing with Big Feelings
Dealing with big feelings in young children is one of the most demanding aspects of early years care. It is when children are at their most emotionally distressed, furious, frustrated, fearful, over-excited or otherwise out of control that...
Flipping the Script on School Readiness: Why Schools Must Adapt to the Child
School readiness is a topic that dominates early years conversations every year - but it’s time we asked whether we’re focusing on the right thing. Every summer term, a familiar wave of anticipation and anxiety ripples through early years...
Safer Sleep Guidance in Early Years: What’s Changed and What Ofsted Will Now Inspect
Safer sleep guidance in early years is changing - and if you care for babies or children under 2 in your setting, you need to know exactly what's new. In March 2026, early education minister Olivia Bailey confirmed that the government is writing...
Oral health in the early years: promoting healthy smiles for life
Oral health in the early years: promoting healthy smiles for life Good oral health in young children is much more than just teaching them how to brush their teeth. Healthy mouths support so much more growing up, such as eating,...
Do Babies Belong in Schools?
The early years sector is no stranger to change. Over the past few years, we’ve seen reforms to funding, ratios, qualifications and curriculum expectations. Now, another question is gaining momentum both online and in staffrooms up and down the...
The Creativity Myth
Why Are Some Children “More Creative”? They’ve Just Had More Opportunities Walk into any early years setting and, at some point, you will hear it said: She has creativity, or he’s not really a creative child. And often, quietly, staff can feel...
Baby Music and Sensory Play
Music and sensory - from the very earliest stages of life, movement shapes who we become. In the womb, the first spontaneous movements emerge, initiating not only physical development but also the earliest form of communication, a way of...
Language processing differences
In 2020, I became the UK’s most obnoxiously proud Mummy when my son became the UK’s youngest published author with his book: “My Mummy is Autistic”. He wrote it as he turned five, illustrating it with the vibrant felt-tip pen drawings that only...
Reflective Practice in Early Years
Reflective practice in early years settings means observation is something you do all day long – who is struggling to settle, who is fascinated by the blocks, who always hangs back at tidy-up time? Reflective practice is what turns those...
Music and AI in Early Years
Artificial Intelligence or AI in early years is arguably one of the biggest changes to industry, with the potential to impact all of education, including early years, even music. Studies show that 90% of early years educators have heard of AI,...
Why Neurodiversity in Early Years Matters
Every child brings a unique blend of strengths, preferences, sensitivities and ways of learning to our settings. Some children thrive in busy spaces, others need more time to warm up. Some communicate confidently with words, while others prefer...
Early Years Calm After the Festive Whirlwind
As the twinkling lights fade and the last crumbs of mince pie disappear, January often feels like a collective exhale, a moment to pause after the sensory and emotional whirlwind of the festive season. For many children, and indeed for the...
Resetting Nursery Culture for the New Year
Resetting nursery culture is especially important in January, which marks a midway point in the academic year, combined with the start of the calendar year, and offers a natural moment to pause, take stock and realign your nursery culture after...
Good Practice in the Baby Room
With the expansion of government-funded childcare to babies from 9 months old complete, it can be easy to focus on the number of babies entering nurseries and lose sight of the experience. However, high-quality interactions and experiences are...
Winter Play Movement Skills
Winter play movement skills are essential for supporting children’s physical development, confidence and wellbeing in early years settings, as the season brings a new kind of magic to children’s play as the world outside changes texture and...
How Routines Support Emotional Security
In an ever-changing world, routines offer a powerful Emotional security anchor for children: a reliable rhythm that fosters emotional security, builds trust, and supports learning. For all children, but especially for those who are...
Neurodivergent Boys: Changing the Narrative
Neurodivergent Boys: SEND Me Your “Naughty” Boys - A few summers ago, I was preparing to begin a new job as Reception teacher in a small village school. I was in my classroom, busily preparing, which included changing the backing paper on...
Being Autistic – what my children taught me
Being Autistic - The Proudest Mummy in the UK In 2020, I became the UK’s most obnoxiously proud Mummy when my son became the UK’s youngest published author with his book: “My Mummy is Autistic”. He wrote it as he turned five, illustrating it...
Building Confidence Through Play
Building confidence through play is something we see every day in early years settings. Have you ever watched young mammal cubs playing? They move, explore, chase, test and repeat actions over and over. They don’t sit down to formal lessons;...
Two-year-olds: Turning Chaos into Fun
Two-year-olds are often one of the most challenging age groups to work with, even for experienced practitioners. They sit in that tricky “in-between” stage, where bursts of independence and big emotions come together. While this phase will pass,...
Reclaiming The Magic of Play In Early Years
Discover how play, movement, and storytelling in early years boost learning, creativity, emotional literacy, and well-being for children and educators.
Creating & Curating A Sensory Christmas
Create a sensory-rich Christmas with scents, textures and stories that spark joy, support sensory needs and make the festive season calmer and more inclusive.
Managing Challenging Behaviour – Part Two
Learn practical strategies for responding calmly to challenging behaviour in young children, supporting emotional regulation, empathy, and positive relationships.
What I Learned Teaching EAL in the Middle East
Discover lessons from teaching EAL learners in the Middle East and how language, emotion, and belonging shape learning in multilingual classrooms.
EAL Support for Young Children
Support young children with EAL through inclusive, language-rich early years practice. Discover strategies that build confidence and communication.
Language Developmental Milestones
Discover key language developmental milestones from birth to age three, and learn how early years practitioners can support every child’s communication journey.
The Festival of Winter Walks
Explore the Festival of Winter Walks: outdoor winter adventures for children and families, boosting wellbeing, learning, and festive fun in nature.
Social-Emotional Learning & Mental Health
Discover practical ways to support social-emotional learning (SEL) and children’s mental health in early years settings through empathy, play, and safe routines.
Autism and Paracetamol: 5 Vital Facts for Parenta Providers
Explore paracetamol myths, autism, and child behaviour, while learning how empathy, listening, and understanding bridge divides in families and society.