Family Connects are one-off online events providing an opportunity to connect with other parents and carers via Zoom and learn about topics relevant to families and children aged 0-5. Plus you will share ideas in how to support children’s early education and each other.
The Connect sessions are free thanks to funding from the Department of Education.
Songs, stories & rhymes - supporting early communication
Tuesday 10 December, 10am - 11am
“Knowing more words, makes you smarter!” In this session we explore the importance of speech and language development and how you can support your children’s early communication.
Join us to explore why communication and language development is so important in the early years, and how you can encourage this at home with songs, stories and rhymes packed with lots of information, ideas, and tips!
Building babies brains
Tuesday 17 December, 6pm - 7pm
Did you know that in the first years of a child’s life their brains develop rapidly? In this Family Connect session we'll discuss children's early brain development and explore ideas to actively engage your child through everyday activities like playing, reading and being there when they feel stress. We'll share information and ideas to support you to help your baby develop a healthy brain.
Supporting children's speech, language and communication
Thursday 16 January, 1pm - 2pm
Join us for this family connect session where we will be taking a closer look at why speech language and communication is so important and how you may see this developing in your own child/ren. We will be sharing practical tips and ideas about how you can further support your child’s developing communication and language skills.
Bilingualism - making it count
Wednesday 22 January, 6pm - 7pm
Together we will look at top tips and ideas to help your child learn more than one language, and think about the sort of strategies that an early years educator will use to help your child with their learning.
Supporting and understanding behaviour
Thursday 30 January, 6pm - 7pm
In this session we try to define behaviour and look to delve into some of the influences and functions of children’s behaviour with tips, advice and information about how you can support this, and finally rounding things up with a discussion around how you can support your child's behaviour.
Screen time
Wednesday 26 February, 6pm - 7pm
Join us for this session with Dr Gemma Goldenburgh, a psychologist and education expert with two decades of experience working in nursery and school settings. In this session, Dr Goldenburgh will review the evidence for how technology and early screen use affect young children. We'll also talk about how to tell between good and bad quality content, and offer some practical tips for how to manage early screen use.
Supporting children's emotional wellbeing
Tuesday 4 March, 1pm - 2pm
In this session we try to define behaviour and look to delve into some of the influences and functions of children’s behaviour with tips, advice and information about how you can support this, and finally rounding things up with a discussion around how you can support your child's behaviour.
Building babies brains
Thursday 20 March, 10am - 11am
Did you know that in the first years of a child’s life their brains develop rapidly? In this Family Connect session we'll discuss children's early brain development and explore ideas to actively engage your child through everyday activities like playing, reading and being there when they feel stress. We'll share information and ideas to support you to help your baby develop a healthy brain.
Co-regulation
Wednesday 26 March, 1pm - 2pm
Join us for this session with Dr Gemma Goldenburgh, a psychologist and education expert with two decades of experience working in nursery and school settings. In this session, Dr Goldenburgh will talk about the research into how children’s and caregiver’s body rhythms tune into each other. We'll also discuss positive ways in which caregivers can scaffold a child’s behaviour, by helping to create stable rhythms, and how children’s and caregiver’s negative moods can influence one another.
Free resources for families
