It stands to reason that art and craft assists to develop fine muscle control in your babies, and that kicking, running and chasing games improve their physical strength and control, but how do you kick start your baby's ability to think and solve problems?  Funnily enough, abstract thinking and analytical skills are the focus of many toys created for babies and toddlers.  You may not have thought about it, but toys such as shape sorters, simple jigsaws starting with just two pieces per puzzle, old fashioned building blocks and musical instruments all help to develop analytical and thinking skills in babies and toddlers.

Walk into a toyshop and so many of the toys available today were available in a similar form in our own childhood - many were available in similar form during our parents and grandparents childhoods too!  Science has long told us that interacting with such toys helps us explore the world and develop our thinking, perhaps what is more surprising is that there are so few innovations in childrens toys over the last two generations.  That comes down to the fact that human development hasn't evolved in that time, and for a long time we have had a pretty good understanding of it.

When nurturing your chilren, or children that you work with, introduce a good balance of 'thinking' games and activities.  This is only one area of child development, but it can be easy to overlook the importance of this area if you particularly enjoy more physical activities.  That is one reason that the Early Years Foundation Stage is so important - by following the guidelines and ticking off boxes for areas that you have pursued, you will automatically be delivering a well balanced development plan to your little ones.  If you aren't the most creative person and struggle for ideas in areas of EYFS, or you simply want ideas that you can adopt and develop, then sign up to ToucanLearn now!  We offer hundreds of activities concentrating on key development skills, and for premium members we link them all to EYFS too so that you can track progress with your little ones.  If you are toying with the idea of subscribing to ToucanLearn, then there are several hundred good reasons for doing so!

A baby's cry can go on and on - it can be loud and so relentless and sometimes no matter what you do it seems it will never stop.  However, we must remember that a baby's cry is a useful tool as a means to communicate.  During the first few weeks a baby is completely helpless and has only one way to let you know he or she is not happy... and that is to cry!

Babies cry on average about 1 - 2 hours a day and we must realise that it is completely normal!  If your baby is crying much more than this then perhaps you should seek expert advice, but for the most part it is okay!  What makes it hard is when a crying baby cannot be comforted.  No amount of cuddles, food, songs, rocking or pushing round in a buggy will make the crying stop.  This is when it get stressful and difficult to cope with.

In order to stop the crying, we need to ascertain why it started int he first place... so here are a few reasons why babies cry.

Baby is hungry. Yesterday they were happy with small feeds, today they want more!  So, in the first instance offer more milk.  Their feeding needs fluctuate and growth spurts can catch you off guard.  During a sudden growth spurt, feeding will often be more frequent.

Baby needs a cuddle. Perhaps baby is unsettled and hasn't had a cuddle for a while.  Give a lovely warm cuddle and hold him for a while.

Wind. Perhaps he has some trapped wind which is making him uncomfortable.  Try and burp him.

Dirty nappy. Perhaps she needs a change.  Some babies don't even notice a dirty nappy.  Others do.  Sometimes just the activity of changing a nappy can distract a baby and stop the crying.

Temperature. He may be too hot or too cold.  If he is warm and rosy, he may be overheating, so remove a layer.  If he is pale and has cold feet, then put another layer on and make his warmer.  The ideal temperature for a baby is around 20 degrees Centigrade.

Too much going on. A loud noise, a bright light, a police car siren, these unusual disturbances can unsettle a baby.

Bored. Even babies need a bit of stimulation.  A teddy, a mobile, a ball in the cot or some nice music may soothe and entertain a new baby.

Unsettled. Perhaps your baby is facing a new situation that they are not used to?  The first sessions with a new childminder and away from Mummy, or any other environment that is new could cause uncertainty and distress. Ease your baby gently into new situations.

If the crying seems unusually pitched or doesn't stop, then do seek medical advice - you recognise your own baby's cry better than anyone else and are best positioned to notice any abnormality.

When a new baby arrives so much of the focus is on Mum, but what about things Dad can do with baby!   The relationship with Daddy is very important too!  Here are a few ideas to get Dad involved and feel an important part of the family.

• Monkeying around - play peek-a-boo, blow raspberries, pull funny faces, make a teddy talk. Remember all your boy-ish larking around but this time take baby with you!
• Get informed - do a bit of research into babies, and have a good idea of what is required and what is going on.  It will be a great help to Mum and will make you feel an important part of those early days.
• Hunt for your favourite book - try to recall what you liked as a child. If you still have any old books in the attic then pull them out, dust them down and start reading them to your little one. If you can't find a particular title, pop to the library and see if it's there. Or, choose a new book you like the look of and make it a special book you read to your child together.
• Go for a walk - grab a sling and go for a walk together on your own. Mum will be happy for a bit of rest. Touch leaves, rest on a sunny park bench, sit on the grass and spend easy time together.
• Stand Up for Yourself! - don't let a mother or mother-in-law undermine you or your role as a Dad.  Stand up for yourself!
• Feeding friend - if mummy is breast feeding you can't really help to feed baby, but how about bringing a nice glass of juice or a snack to keep her going.  It will be appreciated!
• Snap! - take lots of photos. Time goes so quickly, snap whenever you can of everything to do with your baby - even feeding, or sleeping! You'll love seeing them again in years to come when bottles and cots have gone!
• Go shopping - buy a toy from you and give it to your baby as a gift. Let no one influence you - just choose your own toy and present it to your baby! Buy a new set of clothes too - why not!? Again,choose what you would like and not what you think might be right or acceptable!
• Don't Give Up - if you are not too good at nappies and baby seems to cry every time you hold her, don't give up!  Keep at it and you'll get to know each other better and you will get to know what baby likes!

Enjoy your new baby!

Research has found that babies put into incubators when first born are less likely to develop depression as adults - something known as the incubator effect!

The findings suggest that babies put into an incubator when they are born are three times less likely to develop anxiety or depression in later life.  The results surprised the researchers, who expected to find that infants taken away from their mother so early, and placed in the incubator for long periods of time, would be more inclined to feel anxious and experience mental health problems when adults.   Separation at birth has always been considered a major contributing factor to behavioural problems in adolescence and adulthood.

The long term study took  a sample of 1,200 children, in Quebec, from 1986 through to 2006.  Full results were published in the medical journal, Psychiatric Research.  It may be due to the incubator having an impact on brain cell development or perhaps that poorly babies were given more close attention and care.

Interesting findings!

We are all so conscious of dangers when we take children out: cars on the road, tripping on pavements, falling from a swing.  However there are 400 children admitted to hospital every WEEK with injuries following accidents in the home.  This is a staggering number - especially when this is just those under the age of five!

What we have to remember is that children and toddlers and babies are constantly growing and experimenting and exploring.  The way they learn is to watch and copy us.  So, we need only take a look through their eyes to see what they might see and then we'll realise how accidents - that are totally avoidable - can happen.  And, we'll see how easy it is to prevent those accidents taking place.

Tablets and pills - many toddlers can take off the child-resistant caps on bottles of pills. The child-resistant caps make it more difficult to open, but are not impenetrable for a child.  A simple adult painkiller could poison a child.  They see you take a few, and it helps your headache.  If they get hold of them, they take a few and it could be disastrous.  Toddlers may think they are sweets, that they taste nice, that Daddy has them so why shouldn't I, that they make them grow strong.  So, keep bottles of pills well out of reach. 

Lighters and matches - children can ignite lighters by accident and can cause a match to inflame by just playing with them  They don't realise the danger they could cause.  There are 6,000 house fires every year caused by children under ten!  When they look at a match or lighter, children see the flash of light, the spark, it's like magic.  Keep the matches and lighters out of reach.

Stairs - About 800 under fives are taken to hospital each WEEK having fallen down stairs.  They develop the climbing skills need to get up stairs very quickly... almost without you noticing they could suddenly be able to get up a few steps. It can be dreadfully dangerous if they fall down.  Kids think its fun to go up, it's a challenge and everyone else does it so why shouldn't I?  Well, if they do they might fall and hurt themselves, get a stair gate and remember to use it!

Knives and utensils in the kitchen - It's so easy to forget that little ones can one day reach kitchen surfaces.    Make sure all knives, and heavy utensils are well back just in case they reach up and something comes crashing down.

Hot Drinks - tea and coffee can scald and burn a baby's skin.  Don't put hot drinks on low tables or on unstable surfaces.  Tea and coffee is made with boiling water and stays hot for a long time.  If they they go to try your tea without you seeing, and pour it over themselves by accident - it could scar your child for life!

It's not all gloom and doom!  But being very aware of potential dangers is vital in order for you and your child to have a relaxed home!  If you make just a few changes to the way you do things and if you just keep one step ahead if you can... you'll be okay!

A few final tips:

1. Fit a smoke alarm and TEST it frequently.
2. Keep all medicines, cleaning fluids in a locked cupboard out of a child's reach.
3. Fit stair gates and safety guards round fires.
4. Keep hot drinks on tables that are out of reach.  Don't drink hot tea with your baby in your arms.
5. Keep saucepan handles, electric flexes etc well out of reach.

Music is an important part of a baby's development but at different stages in their early life it can be used in different ways.

Newborns love music played softly.  Prepare a nice warm room, cuddle up with your baby and put on some lovely relaxing music.  Rock slightly to the rhythm and enjoy some quiet, peaceful time together.

3-6 month old babies love looking at you and your face so this is a great time to introduce singing to your little one.  They will enjoy hearing your voice (no matter how good or bad you are at singing!) and will love to be near your face as you sing.  Perhaps tap the beat of the music gently on their feet too!

6-9 month old babies are looking for a little more stimulation so this is a good time to introduce actions to your songs and rhymes.  Gently hold their hands and guide their arms through the songs.  Bounce them on your knee in time with the music and perhaps introduce puppets or teddies that dance along to the music too!

9-12 month old babies will be able to hold rattles and instruments when they are doing their 'singing'.  Get hold of some nice bells or wooden rattles and shake in time with the music.  See if baby can copy the sounds you make when you sing or the sounds the instruments make. Don't forget to have a dance around together to music.  Sway, bounce, and even jig if you feel like it!

12-18 month olds will enjoy moving around a little more to music.  Play all sorts of music - not just kiddie songs.  Put on your favourite tracks and see how your little ones like it.  Do some fast dancing, or slow dancing too.  And, don't forget to have some relaxing time together too.  Listen to the music in a comfy chair and have some down time.

Have fun and enjoy yourselves!

Having your first child is the most amazing experience for you, but having further babies has a huge impact on older siblings.  Each addition to your family changes the family dynamic in a fairly sudden way - just as your children have settled into understanding the dynamic of the family, suddenly another baby comes along.  Such is the nature of babies that they require a lot of attention and seem to steal the attention away from older siblings.

The Introduction of a new baby to the family should start in the later months of pregnancy.  You don't want to tell very young children that they are going to have a brother or sister too early because pregnancy to young children must last an eternity, and they may have trouble understanding how far off their brother or sister is!  However, during the last couple of months of pregnancy, start to tell them about the imminent arrival, and involve them at prenatal checks.  Have them touch your tummy and feel the new baby.

The time around the birth can also be confusing for siblings - you are probably a little stressed with anticipation and the worry about how the birth will go, and younger children will sense this.  Then you may be away for a few days in hospital and this too can be confusing for young children.  All of a sudden they maybe taken into the hospital to see you again, and to meet their new brother or sister.  Hopefully by now you have prepared them, and enthused them into the excitement of having a new baby to take home.  Take gifts along that your older children can take for the baby, and buy some gifts that the baby gives back in return - this will help to establish a special and caring relationship between siblings.  Have your children hold the new baby if they want to, and make it clear that the baby is for all of you to share and an equal part of the family.

In the months following birth, older siblings may display emotions of jealousy as your attention is diverted to the new arrival, this is the dreaded 'sibling rivalry'.  Ensure that you continue to spend quality time with older siblings, and have them play an integral role in bringing up the new baby.  Have them play an active role, as far as they are capable, in changing the baby's bottom, getting the baby dressed and with feeds.  Young children especially will delight in being able to mother soft toys or dolls in the same ways that you are mothering your new baby.  Most of all, make sure that your children are aware that this new addition to the family is here to stay, and not just on temporary loan from the hospital!  The sooner they get used to having a sibling the better!

Meeting up with other mums, with your babies and toddlers, in cafes and restaurants is a fun part of raising kids. Don't be embarrassed if your babies make a bit of noise, if the restaurant has high chairs and serves children's food then they expect to cater for young children, and noise is part and parcel of what they are! There will be instances where a child is too unsettled in a restaurant and you may feel you need to abandon the outing, but generally a stressed baby can be calmed and you can enjoy the visit without causing too much of a problem to other customers. Attitudes to babies varies greatly across cultures - in much of Mediterrenean Europe, babies can be found accompanying families in restaurants into the middle of the night, and they are doted on by waiting staff and made very welcome. Unfortunately this attitude is only slowly coming round in other countries where a more traditional attitude of 'babies should be seen and not heard' has sometimes prevailed.

The brain of a newborn baby weighs 400 grams, but by the first birthday, it has grown enormously to 1000 grams!  An adult brain weighs 1400 grams, and by 2 years old, your baby's brain is 80% of that size.  So it's no wonder that children absorb information, facts, songs and everything else like sponges - they have so much memory and learning capacity to fill.  Learning activities in ToucanLearn are aimed specifically at improving mental capacity and reactions.  The first few years are important to the healthy development of your kids, so make sure you take every opportunity to nurture them.

Babies and toddlers love experimenting with textures. Finger painting offers a great activity that allows them to play with textures and make patterns. Yes, it's messy, but so much fun for you and your babies! Perhaps the safest place to do fingerpainting at home is while strapped into a highchair; at least that begins to contain the mess - make sure you also put newspaper down on the floor though, or better yet, use a vinyl tablecloth as a floor cover. Experiment with patterns, swirls, handprints - if you're really brave you could even do foot printing and foot painting!