With National Hugging Day around the corner, let’s consider the many developmental benefits of a simple ‘hug’. Benefits of touch Touch is an essential human need and is the first of the senses to develop in a human child. There is a reason that skin to skin contact is encouraged immediately…
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January 16, 2020
Dr Amanda Gummer and Fundamentally Children have joined forces with The Entertainer to promote balanced play and why it is crucial for a child to be playing right from an early age and the many benefits they can reap from doing so. Below you can read an interview with BBC Radio Sheffield where Dr Gummer was posed several…
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August 2, 2019
To children, play is just fun. However, while they may not realise it, playtime is as important to their development as food and maths. Play helps children to be creative, learn problem-solving skills and develop a sense of curiosity. Good, hardy play – like running and shouting – is not only fun but helps children…
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May 15, 2019
When looking for someone to blame as a result of a mass shooting or acts of extreme violence, there is always one topic that happens to rear its head and that is gaming. But a new study conducted over at Oxford University has found no links between video games and aggressive behaviour. Sarah-Jane Mee spoke to Dr Amanda…
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February 13, 2019
A new study from the Advertising Standards Authority has revealed that between 2013 and 2017 children’s exposure to TV ads has declined by 29.7%, falling from 229.3 ads per week to 161.2. Furthermore, the study also revealed that along with children’s exposure to TV ads on the decline, certain types of content is…
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February 1, 2019
Many parents who are trying to make healthier choices for their children are being misled by high sugar foods claiming to be healthy snacks.
January 28, 2019
Collecting seems to be a particularly popular pastime among children. In an ongoing poll carried out by Babycentre.com, 8 out of 10 of parents said that their child collects things, with the majority (4 in 10) preferring things from nature like conkers, shells and pebbles. A further quarter of parents said their child enjoys…
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January 21, 2019
In the media, there is a lot of speculation about the effects of different parenting styles on children and even which is the ‘right’ way to parent. This can not only cause confusion but also leave us feeling under pressure to live up to a certain style of parenting. However, research has shown that, in…
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November 19, 2018
Editor: Anna Taylor I am a teacher, and the other day I watched a wonderful assembly that was the starting point for a unit of work on ‘Conquering Fear Stories.’ The teacher started off by asking the children and teachers to share their fears: the dark, spiders, snakes, flying, rats, heights, confined spaces –…
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October 24, 2018
There are some amazing people out there who didn’t let dyslexia get in the way of being awesome. And neither should your child.
October 15, 2018