Wiggle Your Way Round Baby Week Bradford
Simple, low-cost/no-cost play ideas for families with children aged 0-3
Go on a playful adventure with your 0-3s during Baby Week Bradford 2024 and beyond!
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If you haven’t already, collect your FREE family play sheet from your local library, family hub or museum.
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Share a different playful activity with your little one at each numbered shape on the wiggly path.
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Help your little one to make a mark in each shape, or perhaps stick on one of their favourite stickers.
Below you’ll find each activity along with why the activity is so good for you and your 0-3s.
Collect your wiggle sheet from:
Your local library (all libraries except Eccleshill)
Your family hub:
– Barkerend
– Farcliffe
– Rainbow
– Reevy Hill
Your local museum:
– Bolling Hall Museum (library)
– Cartwright Hall Museum
– Cliffe Castle Museum
– Bradford Industrial Museum
Other:
– Sedbergh Sports and Leisure Centre
– Gateway Centre (Ravenscliffe Community Association)
– Holmewood Children’s Centre
– Mayfield Centre
– Owlets Family Centre
– St Edmund’s Children’s Centre
– TFD Family Hub
1. Make a splash
...in the bath, in a puddle, in a pool, in a bucket - the possibilities are endless!
Water play encourages babies to engage their fine motor skills (the ability to make movements using the small muscles in their hands and wrists), test boundaries and use their imagination, as well as being lots of fun.
2. Play outside
Go outside and play together. What can you see, hear, touch? Breathe and enjoy.
Outdoor play can happen whenever you are outside, even on the walk to nursery or playgroup. Outdoor play builds children’s brains, and also helps their mental and physical health and wellbeing too.
Autumn is a great time of year to collect natural objects like pinecones, conkers, leaves and acorns which are all fantastic for making pictures and decorations.
3. Do the Baby Week Wiggle
Do you and your little one like moving and dancing? We want to get the nation wiggling...and it's your turn to join in!
There are so many benefits to dancing and moving to music. It’s a fun way for us all to exercise, and a safe way to exercise when pregnant. It’s also energising and mentally relaxing. Go on, give it a go...
4. Play with odds and ends
There's SO much fun to be had using things we would normally throw away or recycle - such as cardboard boxes - so let little imaginations run wild!
Materials such as egg boxes, yoghurt pots, kitchen roll tubes, string - and so much more - can all be used to make a new game, instrument or vehicle. The fun of playing with materials is as much about the process as the result.
5. Take five
Family life is so busy, so little moments in the day to pause and spend some time with your little one can add up to something much bigger. Set a clock and share 5 minutes of special time together - you could play a new game, find a new place, or have a giant cuddle. The choice is yours!
6. Share a story
Grab a favourite book or make up a story. Books and stories are magical, fun, and little brains love them!
Sharing stories is a great way to develop babies and children’s speech language and communication skills.
Why not also take a look at...
Our friends at 50 Things to do Before You’re Five have lots of exciting, ideas for play for children aged 0-4.
Across the Bradford district, Family Hubs support families with children and young people of all ages and at every stage of family life. Start for Life provides extra support to families to improve children's lives.
A free service offering advice, information and signposting to children, young people and families within the Bradford district.
Talking Bradford wants every child under the age of 5 who lives in the Bradford district to have the chance to be the best communicator or talker that they can be - giving them the best start in life.
BBC Tiny Happy People has a wealth of simple activities and play ideas, and you can find out about babies and toddlers' amazing early development.
A series of animated videos featuring everyday Big Little Moments you can share with your babies and toddlers to build their brains. The little moments you share every day make a big difference.
Download our Top Talking Tips resource and explore some of our favourite speech, language and communication resources for the early years
Download our Healthy Habits Activity cards, plus signposting to some of our favourite health, nutrition and physical activity resources
Everything you do together helps your baby’s brain develop. It’s never too early to start - from bump, to babies to toddlers. Your baby even recognises family voices before they are born.
Getting outdoors has lots of benefits for you and your child. It's the perfect place for your child to be physically active, use their imagination, explore and learn. It's great for your mental and physical health too.
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