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The holidays are here and it is a great time to try and take time out and relax with our children. Prior preparation is often key to a great time, have a look at our article with advice for checking your holiday accommodation, things to take with you for a great day out and first aid advice if you suffer from sunburn, heat exhaustion etc... Click here to read the full article little boy building sand castle on tropical beach

When you think of energetic and interactive classes you may assume that Amanda’s Action Club is only suitable for toddlers and pre-schoolers, but in fact babies excel in our classes too. Anyone with older children will have seen how much their baby benefits from watching their siblings play. They love copying other children and learn faster by doing this. Research has shown that 60 percent of second children walked earlier than their older siblings. The reason? Babies often learn by watching. "Research shows that having an older sibling around -- someone with advanced language, cognition, imagination, and play skills -- can [...]

Some very good information about Head Injuries from our friend Emma at First Aid for Life Babies and children often bang their heads. This is partly because their heads are disproportionately large but also because they tend not to look where they’re going, are oblivious to risk and are therefore unaware of danger around them. Head injuries can be frightening. It can be difficult to assess how seriously a child is hurt and what you should do about it. Fortunately, most head injuries are superficial and only involve the scalp. This can be alarming as the head and face are extremely vascular [...]

Read this insightful article about the upcoming festive season by our lovely colleague and parenting expert, Sue Atkins.   Festive stress Christmas, although a time of great joy and celebration, can also be the most stressful of times for even the best of parents, with the family home chaotic and often besieged by visitors. Throw into the mix over-excited children who have weeks to sit around at home and the situation can quickly spiral out of control. Keeping your children calm and entertained will be the key to helping keep the peace and getting through the Christmas holiday period with as [...]

Read this insightful article by our lovely colleague and parenting expert Sue Atkins.   If you suddenly have a fussy eater on your hands – you’re not alone! Lots of parents go through the same thing with their children as faddy eating is often a phase that young children go through to explore their independence, test you out and to get some of your attention (no matter how bad it is!) Children like things to be familiar, as it helps them relax and feel safe so whether it’s their bedtime routine or their cheese sandwich, many children won’t try new foods [...]

Last week, Ofcom published a report showing alarming statistics regarding the time pre-schoolers and school aged children spend online. These are truly frightening statistics showing that time spend on tablets and online  is ever increasing.   Some of the findings are staggering: Three- and four-year-olds are online for an average of 71 minutes per day, or eight hours, 18 minutes a week - an hour and a half more than a year ago. The research found that a third of pre-school age children own their own media device, such as a tablet or games console. We, at Amanda's Action Club do [...]

With the publication today of a Save The Children Report about boys, it has been found that a quarter of boys are falling behind by the time they start in reception, their first year at primary school. It is so important for teachers to make learning fun for children. Boys also need more physical activity and outdoor play to expel their energy – this in turn can help their concentration. Learning must be about having fun and in the reception year, play is a crucial component of this. For example, children enjoy using their imagination and role play their favourite super [...]