How can you encourage a healthy and enthusiastic learner and good personal, social and emotional development? There is so much that can be done in the home and in the childcare setting to encourage effective PSED.  Here are just a few ideas that can be incorporated into your typical day.

• Play games; take turns and play by the rules.
• Share things; share out snacks or toys or bricks and encourage little ones to do so as well.
• Go to local places of interest, history museums or galleries.
• Look at programmes from theatre or festivals visits.  Or pick up leaflets from places of interest and local history museums.  Look through the information/booklets together when you get home.
• Take photos when out and about and look back a the photos together.  Recall the day, where you were, who was with you what happened etc.
• Listen to what your child wants to talk about, especially if they are anxious or worried about something.  It may seem tiny to us, but a little problem can escalate.
• Encourage lots of questions and exploring when out and about.

Growing up is full of minor achievements but none make a parent more proud than those early defining moments when baby first rolls over, learns to crawl, walk, talk and one day, to write!  The first few years of life are filled with milestones when your child achieves something that you've not seen them do before.

There are four main developmental areas, learning control of the body with fine and gross motor skills; personal and social development and language.  Here are a few milestones to look out for in your baby's first year:-

0 - 3 Months

• Spontaneous smiling
• Turns towards source of sound
• Tracks an object waved in front of face
• Learns to roll over

3 - 6 Months

• Starts chewing
• Learns to squeal and gurgle
• Looks at own hands
  

6 - 9 Months

• Feeds themselves with their fingers
• Pulls up to a standing position
• Passes an object from hand to hand
• Starts uttering 'dada' and 'mama'

9 - 12 Months

• Drinks from a cup
• Starts 'cruising' - uses furniture as a support and moves around room
• Begins to use recognisable words

Of course, babies develop at different rates and reaching milestones late may not have any bearing on wider development.  They may even skip milestones, for example starting to crawl without managing to roll over, or taking first steps unaided without cruising.

Every child registered in ToucanLearn has a private blog space.  Log milestones for each of your children and in time you'll have an invaluable record of their early lives that not only will you look back on fondly, but one day your children might thank you for too!