Parents urged to 'understand' child's development
Date: 20/08/2009 / Category: Indoor play for disability schools and groups
Parents concerned about their child's development skills must attempt to understand why their offspring may have fallen behind, it has been claimed.
In an article for the Times, professor Tanya Byron reassures parents that every child is different and will tend to develop at their own speed.
She suggests that parents must try to understand why there is a development delay with children falling short of their development milestones, whether it is language or fine motor skills.
However, in her response to a letter sent to the newspaper, Ms Byron warns against pushing children through their development targets before they are ready.
She also warns against "coddling" children, which she believes can make children more anxious.
This point chimes with recommendations from Play England's Catherine Prisk, who recommends that children are allowed to take part in free play to support their development skills.
In particular, Ms Prisk recommends physical exercise, which also boosts growth.
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