We’re working with the NSPCC and parents and carers across York to help families to support their children, from newborns to 2 year olds.
We'd love health and childcare professionals to be part of this!
The NSPCC Look, Say, Sing, Play campaign provides tips and hints on how parents can help their child’s brain develop and strengthen their bond with them as well as sharing some of the science behind early brain development.
Research shows that when a parent responds positively to their child by speaking, gesturing or touching, it helps shape brain architecture by building and strengthening the neural connections that babies need to develop communication and social skills.
This evidence-informed, strengths-based approach is carefully designed to support parents and carers to understand more about the importance of the first 2 years of a child’s life and the many simple but highly effective things they can do to build strong foundations for their baby's future.
As part of the campaign in York:
- midwives will share information about the campaign with every expectant mother
- the Healthy Child Service will give families resources at their child’s 6 to 8 week postpartum check up
- resources will be shared with families through child care settings and volunteer-led groups
LSSP in practice
An Adult Education Tutor, from York Learning, shared their thoughts on the implementation of Look, Say, Sing Play:
Our Early Start programme for parents of 1 and 2 year olds looks at different aspects of child development and sharing ideas for simple and effective activities. Look Say Sing Play complemented what we were doing already, so we incorporated it into the programme.
"Using the Look Say Sing Play website and asking parents to sign up to the weekly emails gave us extra input into the formulation of our ideas. The associated ‘brain science’ helped us to better understand how we were helping the children to develop.
"Each week parents chose a theme from the Look Say Sing Play cards to implement into their routines and then shared their results with the group in the next session. Over time, the parents became more confident at adapting ideas to their own family’s needs. They discovered how useful singing could be in turning challenging activities into something the children enjoyed and came to look forward to.
"Getting dressed; strapping children into their car seats; walking down the street; and bath time were some of the day-to-day activities that had become a challenge, but through using the Look Say Sing Play ideas, families are now able to overcome tricky situations more easily."
York parents talk about Look, Say, Sing, Play
LSSP resources and information
More information, including resources for practitioners and families, including session plans, posters and information leaflets, is available from the NSPCC.
We've produced a number of videos to see how you can use the Look, Say, Sing, Play ideas with the families you’re working with.
How you can help
We need your help to spread the word about Look Say Sing Play.
We’re really keen to hear from professionals and community organisations who work with families with 0 to 2 year olds who can help support this important work. To find out more about how you can get involved in the campaign or to book a seminar place email lssp@york.gov.uk.