Why you are so important

Did you know that at birth your baby's brain is only a quarter formed? And that by the time your child reaches the age of three his or her brain will have developed from 25 per cent to 80 per cent?

This means that your child's brain is developing at an incredible rate during the first three years of life. And the brain doesn't just automatically grow. It develops in different ways depending on the experiences of daily life.

This is where you come in. All the small things you do with your baby or young child, like cuddling, chatting, singing and playing make a difference. They're quite literally the building blocks for your child's confidence, learning and security as they grow older.

This can feel like quite a responsibility. But love and time are the most important things you can give your children - you don't have to have lots of money or qualifications to give them the kinds of experiences they need. This section of the website will give you information about what you can do – and let you know about the support that is available to help you to help your child.

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Last updated: 10th December 2009 at 11:12:25