When it comes to big changes in your child's early years, you should follow your child's lead rather than relying solely on the development books and bragging friends and family!  If you think he is ready to sleep in a grown-up bed, then you make that change. If you think she needs a little longer with the stabilizers on her bike, then leave them on!

No one knows your child like you do so don't worry if it seems other children are zooming ahead.  Children that speak late can become opera singers, children that still need a sleep nappy at night will be dry one day and if your little one feels safe and comfortable in his high chair, don't evict him too soon!

There are some important guidelines that do require attention for developmental reasons. You'll be invited to health checks and if there's anything worrying you about your child's development then simply contact your doctor or Health Visitor. And, there are legal requirements for your little one's safety that must be adhered to: weight and height restrictions in car seats for example. However, when it comes to keeping up with others... ignore the bragging and boasting of others and cherish your little one for yourself!

Watching your baby develop is one of the real privileges of being a parent.  When your baby is born, he or she seems to be a small, defenseless creature that needs constant care and attention.  Yet in no time, your baby has grown strong enough to start crawling, then walking, and begins to utter sounds that quickly evolve into speech.  In just a few years, you have a child that is capable and learning constantly, and amazing you with their knowledge every day.  The science of baby and child development has been with us for a long time but is still advancing as we discover new things by piecing together observations.  Although babies and children develop at different rates, the pattern is very similar across everyone, and the variation in time is surprisingly little!  Although you may marvel that some of your friends' babies may seem ahead of your own, if you look objectively you'll notice that your child can do other things that those babies can't yet.  Remember that all the activities in ToucanLearn are presented at the point at which your baby should be able to undertake them, and that they are designed to push the capabilities of your baby in a methodical way.  Give your child a head start in life by signing up for our learning program today!

You might think that ToucanLearn is just another activity site, but what we offer is a unique learning program for preschool children.  The program is made up from activities, games and crafts, but each activity is categorised for a very specific moment in the development of your babies and toddlers.  As soon as you have registered your children's name and date of birth, you can get access to loads of activities that challenge their capabilities.  Each activity is focused on one of four key skills in making, moving, learning and speaking which correspond to fine and gross motor skills, thinking and language development.  As your child grows older, so the selection of activities changes so that you will only ever see activities appropriate to the capabilities of each child.  The best thing is that you can use all of this for free - if you pay premium membership then you receive even more activities, and some other benefits, but if those don't appeal, you are welcome to use ToucanLearn without paying at all!