January 2022 Parenta magazine

hello
welcome to our family
Hello and welcome to the January edition of the Parenta magazine!
The year 2022 is upon us - and a new year often brings new resolutions, as some of us evaluate
what has gone well for us; and what could be improved in the coming year. In January, the day on
which travel agents have found that most people look for or book holidays is on 17th, now unofficially
called “Blue Monday”. This year, of course we also have the ongoing impact of COVID-19 restrictions to
contend with - so instead of ‘singing the blues’ for Blue Monday, we give you some reasons and ways
to sing away the blues! Turn to page 18 to read early years musical expert Frances Turnbull’s wonderful
and uplifting advice on the power of music on mental health. To help you even more, we have a great
selection of musical instrument give-aways for your setting, courtesy of Frances!
Music and movement expert, Gina Bale continues this theme as she advises us to make a new year’s resolution to “get
moving and help grow brains”; while Kathryn Peckham and Helen Garnett, both give us some fantastic insight into just how
those little brains are developing; and Katie White gives some invaluable guidance on “creatively expressing emotions”.
As always, all the advice, guidance, crafts and recipes you read in our magazine are written to help you with the efficient
running of your setting and to promote the health, happiness and well-being of the children in your care. We hope you love
reading it as much as we enjoy making it!
Don’t for get to check out our recipe for Chinese Dumplings which we will be making for Chinese New Year!
Please feel free to share the magazine with friends, parents and colleagues – they can sign up to receive their own copy
here!
We wish you a happy new year.
Allan
JANUARY 2022 ISSUE 86
JUNE 2020 ISSUE 67
IN THIS EDITION
IN THIS EDITION
Regulars
7 Congratulations to our learners
8 Write for us for the chance to win £50!
8 Guest author winner announced
24 Chinese dumplings
25 Pinecone birdfeeder
News
4 Childcare news and views
6 A round-up of some news stories
that have caught our eye over the
month
Advice
12 Child-led learning
16 Supporting children with EAL
28 Chinese New Year
32 Supporting staff and apprentices
with SEND
36 RSPB Big Schools Bird Watch
Industry Experts
Egg-cellent advice: Twinkle toes 30
Supporting staff and apprentices with SEND 32
Creatively
expressing
emotions
10
Although children need to
learn how to emotionally
regulate, it’s also important
that they are able to express
what they are feeling.
Supporting
children with EAL
16
Early years practitioners
need to be able to help
students with EAL access
the curriculum and not
allow the children to be
at a disadvantage.
5 Ways to reduce
sibling rivalry
22
Sibling rivalry can often start from the
day a new baby is brought home, and
can have a huge impact on a family.
It’s important for us to be aware of this
so we can minimise any repercussions.
10 Creatively expressing emotions
14 Mark-making and the connection
to reading acquisition in the early
brain
18 Sing away the blues: The power
of music on mental health in the
early years
22 5 ways to reduce sibling rivalry
26 CEO of the London Early Years
Foundation explains WHY the Government
must bridge the attainment gap for
disadvantaged children through an urgent
reform of 30-hours nursery policy
30 Egg-cellent advice: Twinkle toes
34 2022 New Year’s Resolution: Get
moving and help grow brains
38 Together we are growing children’s brains –
understanding brain development
RSPB Big Schools Bird Watch 36
Together we are growing children’s brains -
understanding brain development
38