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.
Now I’m a toddler, did you know my brain grows better when you………
Talk
- Share books with me and talk about the pictures. Sing rhymes, poems or songs as I love to
hear the words and you are helping me to build my understanding of words and their uses. - Tell me about colours as we explore together or count the steps with me as we climb the stairs
or count the socks in the washing pile.
PLAY
- Follow my lead when we are playing – when you join in or imitate me I know my ideas and
decisions are important. - I love playing outside so try to spend some time outside every day with me.
RELAX
- Try to end exciting play or activity sessions with a wind-down time so we can enjoy a few
moments of calm together. - Sometimes I like to busy and sometimes I like us to sit together and watch what other people are
doing. I learn a lot from watching and then copying.
CUDDLE
- Cuddles are great especially when I’m tired or upset but there may be times when I don’t want a
cuddle but you should try to find other ways to provide me reassuring contact. - I love giving as well as receiving all these different types of physical contact
RESPOND
- Cuddles are great especially when I’m tired or upset but there may be times when I don’t want a
cuddle but you should try to find other ways to provide me reassuring contact. - I love giving as well as receiving all these different types of physical contact
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
Child Safety
Safe at Home Luton is a child accident prevention programme aimed at families from pregnancy through to the child’s 5th birthday.
