Senior Speech Pathologist Sarah Legge says it’s never too early to start reading to babies, as this is vital in the development of their communication and literacy skills. “It has been shown that too much screen time can affect children’s sleep, and that sedentary screen time during early childhood can have long-term impacts on development.” Why reading together is important “Children younger than two should not be having any screen time at all, and for two-to-fives, it should be no more than an hour a day,” she says. Hancock says some parents and carers may not be aware of the importance of following the recommendations around sedentary and screen time in the physical activity guidelines for under-fives. This might include chasing games, using playground equipment, riding a bike or kicking a ball in the backyard, treasure hunts or beachcombing. Single sex v co-ed: which is better for kids' education?.The science of letting for, for the sake of your hip pocket and the planet.The important thing is to encourage regular physical activity and make it fun and a part of their everyday routine. While they are likely to enjoy skills training, like swimming or dancing lessons, there is no need for organised or competitive sport. Physical activity for pre-schoolers should be play-based, she says. “Once they’re crawling, you can make simple obstacle courses with cushions and place interesting toys out of reach to make them move.” As they get better head control, they can be supported to sit in several different ways. This could include laying them on their backs on an activity mat, or the very important ‘tummy time’. “Babies who aren’t yet crawling should be placed in different positions when they’re awake and alert. Watch me go: It's important to encourage regular play-based physical activity, says physiotherapist Jan Hancock. Physiotherapist Jan Hancock says Australian guidelines describe the amount of physical activity children under five need at different ages to foster the development of their musculoskeletal system, coordination, balance and motor skills. The Blue Book personal health record issued to the parents of every child born in NSW is a great source of information, while the Early Childhood Nurses (ECN) available to all new parents, GPs, and childcare and early education centres can all provide tailored advice.

There may be other indications of developmental issues in addition to missed milestones, such as if a child appears off balance and has frequent falls, or if their hand and arm use (before the age of two) or limb growth appears asymmetrical. While a single missed milestone is not necessarily a cause for serious concern, it does provide the opportunity for early intervention, allowing a team of clinicians from different paediatric disciplines to work together if necessary. Uther says every parent and carer should make themselves aware of the Australian guidelines and milestones for pre-schoolers, and know whether their child is meeting them. You can make simple obstacle courses with cushions and place interesting toys out of reach to make them move. “A baby is born unable to control their head or use their arms, but within about 12 months, they have learned to roll over, to sit up, to walk, and say their first words.”

“This is when your child is being set up for the rest of their life, and if something goes awry, it can have a huge impact on their physical and emotional health,” she says. MQ Health Paediatrician Dr Penny Uther says up to 90 per cent of a child’s development occurs in those vital first 2000 days. Between birth and the age of five, children undergo rapid development – physically, cognitively, socially, emotionally and in terms of their ability to communicate.īest chances: Every Australian parent and carer should make themselves aware of milestones for pre-schoolers, says paediatrician Dr Penny Uther.

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