Everyday connection with young children

Children do not need special toys to grow well. What helps most is warm, regular attention from people they trust: being talked to, sung to, held and listened to. These small moments build a child's sense of safety.

Ideas for ordinary days

• Talk while you cook, bathe or travel. Name what you see: 'Look, a crow on the wall.'
• Sing the songs and lullabies of your own home, in your own language.
• Read or tell stories, from picture books to what Nani told you.
• Play simple games with what you have: pots, spoons, clay, a ball made of cloth.
• Spend ten undivided minutes on the floor with your child. Put the phone down.
• Say what you notice: 'You tried again. Well done.'

When you are tired or stressed

Many caregivers carry too much. A child's meltdown at the end of a long day does not mean you are failing. Take a breath, give a hug if you can, and try again tomorrow. If you lose your temper and shout, you can repair it by saying sorry and talking afterwards.