Early Years – what can I do to help my child?
Being a parent can be a worrying time and it’s ok to have concerns. Click on the heading below to find out more about what you can do to support your child if you are worried about something.
The NHS Birth to Five Development Timeline and What to Expect, When give you more information about expected child development, but be aware that every child develops differently.
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Sleeping
Online resources
- Council for Disabled Children – Information About Sleep – Throughout this booklet we will explore reasons why your child may have difficulty sleeping and suggest ways of improving their sleep patterns.
- NHS – Healthy Sleep Tips for Children – Ideas to support children to sleep well.
You can try
Doing the same relaxing things in the same order and at the same time each night helps promote good sleep:
- A warm (not hot) bath will help your child relax and get ready for sleep.
- Keeping lights dim encourages your child’s body to produce the sleep hormone, melatonin.
- Once they’re in bed, encourage your child to read quietly or listen to some relaxing music, or read a story together.
- You could also suggest your child tries this relaxing breathing exercise before bed.
Who to talk to
If you’ve tried these tips but your child keeps having problems getting to sleep or sleeping through the night, you may feel you want more support. You can speak to your GP or health visitor to begin with. They may refer you to a child psychologist or another expert.
If your child needs more help…
If you have tried all this and you are still worried about your child’s sleeping, look at the targeted and specialist services available in Devon.
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Toileting
Children are able to control their bladder and bowels when they’re physically ready and when they want to be dry and clean. Every child is different, so don’t compare your child with others.
Online resources
- NHS Choices – How to potty train – step by step tips and ideas to potty train and toilet train a child.
- Contact- How to toilet train a disabled child – how to help a child with a disability to use the toilet.
You can try
- Change your child in the toilet so that they get used to the toilet room as a place where wee and poo happens.
- Put stickers or favourite toys in the toilet room so your child feels happy to be in there.
- Accept that this will take a long time and praise every positive step towards the goal of independent toileting.
- Create a routine and stick to it.
Who to talk to
If you’ve tried these tips but your child keeps having problems toileting, you may feel you want more support. You can speak to your GP or health visitor to begin with. They may refer you to a child psychologist or another expert.
If your child needs more help…
If you have tried all this and you are still worried about your child’s toileting, or if your child is unable to toilet independently, look at the targeted and specialist services available in Devon.
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Talking
Online resources
- NHS Choices – help your baby learn to talk – step by step guide, by age, to things you can do to encourage your child to communicate effectively.
- I Can advice line – for advice when you have a concern about a child’s speech and language development
- Talking Point progress checker – complete the questionnaire about your child to check the progress of their development – from 6 months to 11 years old.
You can try
- Singing – you don’t have to sing well, but the music and rhythm of your voice can help develop a child’s speech
- Games – things like ‘point to the…’ or ‘Simon says’ can help develop children’s listening skills
- Repetition – a child may need to hear a word in context hundreds of times to be able to learn and remember it.
- Face to face interactions – limit TV or screen time and talk to and play with your child.
Who to talk to
If you’ve tried these tips and you have used the progress checker, you may feel your child has problems with their speech and language and you may want more support. You can speak to your GP or health visitor to begin with. They may refer you to a speech and language therapist or another expert.
If your child needs more help…
If you have tried all this and you are still worried about your child’s speech, language and communication, look at the targeted and specialist services available in Devon.
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Walking
Every child develops differently and walking may come later to your child. When babies start to walk they can be unsteady on their feet but can move very quickly. They trip and fall often. If your child is not walking by 18 months talk to your health visitor or GP.
Online resources
Babycentre.co.uk – Developmental Milestones: Walking – This page gives an overview of what to expect when and ideas to encourage your child to walk.
You can try
- Make sure your baby has the freedom to develop their muscles by kicking, wriggling and rolling.
- Bounce and balance with your baby so they can learn about their body and improve their awareness.
- Help your baby to try walking by holding their hands or arms and allowing them to try bearing weight on their legs.
- Keep the floor clear so they have space to try out walking and allow them to use furniture to ‘cruise’ around the room with support.
Who to talk to
If you’re worried about your child’s walking or movement, talk to your health visitor or GP. Some special educational needs or disabilities, like Down’s Syndrome or Global Development Delay, mean that milestones come later for these children. your GP may refer you to a paediatrician for a more detailed assessment. A physiotherapist may help where there are problems with your child’s muscles. An occupational therapist may help where your child needs extra support to learn how to walk.
If your child needs more help…
If you are still worried about your child’s walking, look at the targeted and specialist services available in Devon.
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Interaction
Online resources
- NHS Choices – Why Play is Important – Tips for playing with young children and fitting this in to your busy day.
- Scope – Games all children can play – ideas for games and activities that will be inclusive for all children.
- Start 4 Life – activities for toddlers – ideas for things to do with toddlers to help them develop social skills
You can try
- Use specific praise, like “fantastic sharing” so they know what they have done well.
- Ensure your child has the opportunity to play with and interact with others.
- Model play and interaction by doing it yourself, so your child can learn from your behaviour.
Who to talk to
See your GP or health visitor if you’re concerned about your child’s development. It can also be helpful to discuss your concerns with your child’s nursery or school.
If your child needs more help…
If you are still worried about your child’s interaction with others, look at the targeted and specialist services available in Devon.
Page updated 31/07/18