Fun and laughter lie at the heart of new sensory play programmes designed to help parents learn about child development, early learning and the importance of bonding.
Called Tickle Giggle, the programmes have been devised by the Glasgow-based training company Experiential Play.
Managing director Alice Sharp says, 'Many parents, after the initial intense emotion of the birth and bringing baby home, face the feeling "What do we do now?". While love comes naturally to most parents, all of them face difficulties at some point or another.
'Through sharing songs, rhymes and simple games, we bring out the fun and adventure in parenting, while highlighting the importance of parent-child interactions and how play can make a positive and significant contribution in giving a child the best possible start in life. The philosophy behind the programme is simple - share the play, share the learning, share the fun.'
At present, two programmes are available: Tickle Giggle Bump for expectant parents and Tickle Giggle Baby for parents and babies up to one year. Tickle Giggle Toddle and Tickle Giggle Play are under development.
The current programmes comprise ten 30-40 minute sessions, entitled Let's Bond, Let's Move, Let's Look and See, Let's Listen and Hear, Let's Share Stories, Let's Get Messy, Let's Sing Together, Let's Share Games, Let's Play, and Let's Tickle and Giggle.
PLAY NOTES
At the outset, each family receives a Wonderbox filled with 15 sensory play items, such as curtain tassels, silk scarves, a Humpty Dumpty toy and a small soft star.
Every session follows a similar format, starting with a short rhyme and a gentle 'hello' song. Then it moves on to four sensory games, which tie in with the theme of the session, such as bonding, physical development, sensory learning and listening.
At the end, parents receive a Play Note covering ideas on the session topic, words to the songs and suggestions for further play experiences. Throughout, session leaders explain the importance of sensory play and highlight learning and development opportunities for the babies and toddlers.
The Let's Bond session, for example, incorporates simple games to encourage eye contact between parent and child, smiling, blinking and winking and turning from side to side, while the Let's Move class includes games ideas for encouraging children to wave, sway, reach and grasp.
Ms Sharp says, 'Importantly, the classes highlight that the relationship between baby and parent can be nurtured in a fun-filled way and help demonstrate that positive parenting is about warmth, love, respect, consistency, good communication and empathy. The sessions can also provide a welcome release for parents from the pressures of care routines.'
Parents have been responding positively to the programme. One mother says, 'I learned pretty quickly that there are so many ways to play and that things around the house can be all you need to have fun together. I had six friends and their babies over for a messy play afternoon - gloop, squirty cream and homemade jelly were squashed, squeezed and wiped everywhere. The babies loved it and the mums all said they hadn't thought of doing things like that, but they would in future.
'Tickle Giggle gave me ideas about how (and why) to play with Rachel that I could never have thought of in my sleep-deprived state. It gave me confidence in playing with Rachel, and I'm much more at ease playing with other children now - there's so much you can say and do with the tiniest thing that a young child will absorb.'
The Tickle Giggle programmes, says Ms Sharp, tie in with international research into early learning and current strands of Scottish early intervention policy with its emphasis on pre-birth to three (as outlined in Pre-birth to Three: Positive outcomes for Scotland's Children and Families, at www.ltscotland.org.uk/earlyyears/prebirthtothree/index.asp).
Ms Sharp adds, 'As a society we have to support our youngest children in every way way possible and that means we have to consider and support the family from conception onwards.'
COMMUNICATION MASTERCLASS
Join us at our Communication Masterclass to hear a panel of leading experts provide updates on research, policy and practice.
Colwyn Trevarthen, Professor (Emeritus) of Child Psychology and Psychobiology at the University of Edinburgh, will provide insights into how to respond to young children's desire to communicate.
Helen Moylett, an adviser to the EYFS Review team, will outline the Review recommendations for communication and language and explain their implications for practice. Alice Sharp, managing director of Experiential Play, will suggest stimulating resources and ways to create communication-rich environments, with a focus on under-threes.
The masterclass is in London on 6 July, from 12.30. For information and to book (£149 plus VAT), visit: www.nurseryworldcomms.com.
