Kerry’s Childcare Service

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A nap is not just a break from the day—it is vital work time for your preschooler’s brain. When children sleep in the early afternoon, their brains move new information from short-term to long-term memory. Research shows naps can help your child remember up to 40 percent more each day, building stronger focus and better problem-solving skills.

Missing a midday nap can make it harder for your child to hold onto what they learned that morning. The most powerful naps last about 60 to 90 minutes and happen before late afternoon. Shorter or late naps might not give enough time for deep memory work and can even disrupt nighttime sleep. That’s why regular naps support not only your child’s mood, but also their growing mind.

If your preschooler stops napping too young, their thinking skills and vocabulary may fall behind. Daytime sleep is how their brains protect and grow what they experience in the world. To help your child thrive, protect their daily nap. It is when small lessons become lasting knowledge."

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If your child falls apart the moment they get home, hunger may be playing a much bigger role than you realise. Low blood sugar makes emotional regulation far harder — this visual explains why after-school hunger magnifies dysregulation, and what actually helps.

I have been in many a school lunch hall and seen children rush their food or not eat it all to know they must be hungry by 3/4pm.

Full After-School Restraint Collapse Toolkit available via the link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

Proprioception is one of the most important senses you’ve probably never been taught about.
It’s the 'body awareness' system that helps a child know where their body is in space, how much force to use, and how to move smoothly and safely.

When it’s not working smoothly, children can look clumsy, crash into things, press too hard, avoid certain movements, or constantly seek deep pressure (tight hugs, squeezing, heavy work).

This isn’t laziness or attention-seeking.
It’s their nervous system asking for information.

Save this post for the next time a child is climbing, crashing, leaning, or “too rough” — it might be proprioception doing its best to cope.
To save, click on the image, tap the three dots, and choose Save.
If you’d like the girl version, comment GIRL below.

I renewed my Emergency Paediatric First Aid qualification last week with Kirsty at Daisy First Aid Central Scotland, Stirling. I can’t recommend this course enough! She has courses for new parents, as well as for people working with children.

https://www.facebook.com/share/16xuKD1QUp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

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Time spent outdoors in early childhood is critical for regulating a child’s nervous system. Missing daily outdoor activity before age three can leave their stress system “on,” making it difficult for the body to calm down naturally.

Simply keeping children indoors with toys, songs, or snacks doesn’t fix stress. Their nervous system needs movement, fresh air, sunlight, and varied sensory input to reset. Without it, stress accumulates, emotional regulation becomes harder, and meltdowns grow in intensity and frequency.

Daily outdoor time provides a natural outlet for energy, helps develop motor skills, and supports emotional regulation. Running, climbing, and exploring engage the brain in ways that indoor activities often cannot, teaching children how to process excitement, frustration, and curiosity in healthy ways.

Parents can support this by establishing consistent outdoor routines, even for short periods. Parks, backyards, or safe walking spaces give children the chance to move freely, breathe fresh air, and interact with nature—all while calming the nervous system.

Understanding the link between early outdoor activity and stress regulation underscores why time outside isn’t optional—it’s essential. Regular outdoor play lays the foundation for calmer, happier, and more emotionally resilient children.

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A baby’s feet are more than just adorable, they are packed with sensory nerves that feed the brain’s attention and focus systems. Covering the feet constantly with socks, shoes, or slippers can limit this crucial input.

Barefoot movement allows babies to feel different textures, pressure, and surfaces, providing continuous feedback that helps regulate the nervous system. This stimulation supports focus, coordination, balance, and sensory integration, laying the foundation for attention and motor skills as they grow.

Wrapping or covering feet all day reduces the sensory signals reaching the brain, which can slow the development of neural pathways involved in concentration and self-regulation. Babies need these natural cues to practice self-control, explore their environment, and build healthy attention systems.

Parents can encourage barefoot time safely indoors or on clean surfaces, giving the child opportunities to explore with their feet and fully engage their sensory system. Even short periods without shoes strengthen the connection between the body and brain, improving focus and nervous system regulation.

Understanding how a baby’s feet contribute to cognitive development shows that small, everyday choices like allowing barefoot exploration can have lasting effects on attention, learning, and overall brain growth.

Time spent outdoors, whatever the weather!

Making the most of time outdoors with the amazing parks, open spaces, forests, river walks around where I live ☺️ as well as time indoors when the weather’s not so good ☀️🛝🛴🌳🏞️🎨🧁

Always planning fun days in & out. Always weather dependant in Scotland - “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing” 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

We don’t always need a plan, a playdate, or a purpose.

Just being together — without distractions or an agenda — is where the real connection lives.

Whether it’s sharing a snack, walking in silence, or lying on the floor doing nothing…

That’s the stuff they’ll remember.
Not the schedule. Not the structure. You. ❤️

Quote Credit: Unknown❣️

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Throughout Childminding Week, we will be sharing key messages to highlight the importance of childminding in Scotland.

Childminding Week is all about raising the profile and increasing awareness of childminding – showcasing how essential childminding is to thousands of children and families across Scotland, and their communities.

Join the Childminding Week conversation, share our key messages, tag us in your posts, and get inspired to .

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