FIVE TO THRIVE
Just as our child’s body grows better when you give them good food, your child’s brain grows better when you do five simple things that feed the growing brain:
Respond ● Cuddle ● Relax ● Play ● Talk
These are your child’s daily ‘Five to Thrive’ building blocks for a healthy brain.
Below are some simple ideas to help you with this parenting approach, even before baby is born:
Talk
- Read to me regularly, even when I’m still in-utero.
- Talk to me about what you are doing, I like to hear the sound of your voice
- Talk to me about people who will be special to me and what we will do together when I’m born
PLAY
- Think about having fun and going out with your family and/or partner
- Have fun going for a walk, visiting the cinema, having a picnic or enjoying a nice meal
- Make time to talk, listen to music and socialise with friends
RELAX
- Try to have a relaxing evening if you have had a stressful day or periods of anxiety
- Settle and calm yourself as this soothes me
CUDDLE
- Gently massage your tummy, try to imagine how I’m lying
- Try using some nice smelling moisturising cream or oil as you massage
RESPOND
- When you respond to my movements, this switches on my brain and helps us to connect

Parenting and Family Relationships
There are a variety of courses and one-off sessions for parents in Luton to promote positive, nurturing and responsive parenting
Healthy Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an important time to think about your lifestyle and what you can do to help have a healthy pregnancy
Child Safety
Safe at Home Luton is a child accident prevention programme aimed at families from pregnancy through to the child’s 5th birthday.