The programme for parents
Lifestart has 30 years’ experience in helping people develop as parents. Our work focuses on the building blocks of child development: parent/child attachment, bonding and interaction, language development, play and most of all, love. Find out here what our parents think of our work.
The Growing Child
Out of the range of good quality parenting programmes available, the Lifestart programme is highly cost effective and for a structured evidence-based programme, is sufficiently flexible at the point of delivery to allow for adaptation in response to need
My son Braidan began on the Lifestart programme when he was 6 months old. Braidan turned 3 on 24 November 2012 and I cannot put into words just how valuable the programme has been to his overall development.
Lifestart has been a priceless asset to our family life, I have received the support every 1st time mum needs to help my child develop to the best of his ability and already at 3 years old his advanced skills are shining through.
The programme was so convenient with the family visitor calling to my home and the family visitor always scheduled the appointments that suited me.
Just to let you know and say thanks for a little girl whom you saw, and I had been seeing at my clinic. The tasks and skills that the Lifestart worker instructed mum with and the Naonra class etc. has helped [name removed] greatly and she has improved an awful lot…
Thank you Lifestart Programme Team for your knowledge, support and all hard work put into it. You are really helping us (parents) now and truly creating a better future for our children by helping them to become better human beings.
I just want commend you and the Lifestart Programme as after attending a Nursery meeting at School, discussing curriculum, child development and what types of ‘play’ are encouraged, the topics covered in the programme and the advice you give are so relevant and on point. Thank you.
Parenting Tips
Treasure Baskets
Treasure baskets are an invaluable activity for your baby to enjoy at home. They are filled with everyday items that you will find in your own home. They are recommended to be used with babies when they can sit up, either by themselves or with support. They provide so many benefits and promote so many learning experiences for your baby from discovery to making their own decisions, exploring taste and textures (placing items in their mouth), and promoting their fine [...]
Developing through our senses
Recently there has been a huge emphasis on a young child’s brain development and how it undergoes a significant amount of change in those first few years. A lot of professionals talk about the importance of the first 1000 days where it is essential to provide a stimulating and nurturing environment that promotes this development. Although the brain cells are formed prior to birth, it is the first three years that connections are made. If we were to consider everything [...]
Emotional Well-Being – Understanding the ‘Baby Blues’
The ‘baby blues’ is a mild depression that many women experience soon after their babies are born. These blues can be caused by hormone changes as well as by the personal challenges that a woman goes through after childbirth. They happen most often from the third or fourth day to the first or second week after delivery. A big area of having a baby that isn’t discussed enough is how you actually feel after you have the baby. How your [...]
Have you had your talk yet?
We often joke about talking to our children about the birds and the bees. Many of us dread these conversations as we think it is a difficult topic. Well, my question for this blog is not about the birds and the bees! The question I'd like to ask is, how often do you talk to each other about how you would like to parent your children. Talking about parenting from the start can save a lot of tension and arguments [...]