Start As We Mean To Go On Christopher Stockwell wrote a piece this week for Cotswolds Arts Through Schools, “The £24 Billion Lesson We Are Refusing to Learn”. He describes watching children written off as difficult come alive in an African drumming class, and asks why we wait until school to invest in what makes…
How to choose a baby class franchise UK: what to look for (and what to ask) The UK children’s activity market has never been busier. There are more baby and toddler class franchises available than ever before – which is great news if you’re thinking about starting your own business, but can make the decision…
A study published in Child Development in 2026 found that by 18 months, toddlers engage more deeply with adults whose emotional reactions have been consistent. They were already tracking who to trust. It turns out that social intelligence does not suddenly appear. It builds, quietly and steadily, from the very first days of life. It…
Singing to babies is one of the oldest things humans do. New research is starting to explain exactly why it works so well, and the answer goes deeper than most parents expect. It starts before birth Your baby’s hearing is functional from around 20 weeks in the womb. By the time they are born, they…
How Your Baby Learns to Talk Before They Say a Single Word Introduction Long before your baby says their first word, their brain is already doing extraordinary work. Every time you chat to them during a nappy change, sing a song at bedtime, or simply narrate what you are doing around the house, you are…
🌱 Learning Play: How Play Builds Confident, Curious and Capable Little Learners When we talk about learning in babyhood, it is easy to picture flashcards or structured activities. In reality, babies learn best through play that allows them to explore, experiment and try things for themselves. At Baby College, we call this Learning Play. It…
Make Friends at Baby College: Why Early Social Experiences Matter One of the loveliest parts of coming to Baby College is watching friendships begin. Not just for parents, but for babies too. While babies are not yet sharing toys or playing together in the way older children do, they are already learning essential social skills.…
🌟 Little Personalities Blooming Already? Absolutely! 🌟 One of the loveliest parts of running our Baby College parent/carer and baby classes is watching tiny personalities begin to peek through – often much earlier than you’d expect! 🧒💕 You might already recognise a few classic “types” in your little one… ✨ The Observer – Calm, thoughtful,…
🌈 Baby College is Growing – Bringing Developmental and Sensory Play to More Families Every Year At Baby College, we believe every family deserves the chance to enjoy meaningful, nurturing time together while learning all about their little one’s incredible development. What began more than twenty years ago as a small family-run programme has now…
🤝 How Babies Make Friends: The Social Side of Development You might not think of a six-month-old as having “friends” – but social development begins from birth, and by the end of their first year, many babies already have favourite people, preferences for familiar faces, and even start showing early signs of empathy. At Baby…
💦 Splish, Splash, Learn! The Developmental Benefits of Swimming with Your Baby Swimming is often one of the first structured activities parents do with their baby – and for good reason. It’s joyful, gentle exercise that supports nearly every area of development, from motor coordination to emotional bonding. At Baby College, we love to talk…
More Than a Tune: How Music Nurtures Your Baby’s Emotional Development When you sing to your baby, you’re doing so much more than sharing a song. Music is a powerful tool for building emotional understanding and security right from birth. At Baby College, our classes use music not only to support brain and language development—but…
🎶 How Music Supports Language Development in Babies and Toddlers Understanding the link between music, communication, and early learning From the moment your baby starts to hear sounds in the womb, music becomes a powerful part of their early development. But did you know that music and language are processed in the same areas of…
Learning Through Play: Nurturing 0–5 Year Olds at Baby College Babies are born into a complex social world. Learning to navigate this intricate environment is a lifelong process that begins from the moment they arrive. Through active participation in everyday experiences and interactions, children start to understand not only the world around them but also…
If you’re a parent in the UK looking for a first baby class that supports social and emotional development, read on to discover why fostering your child’s social skills early on is so crucial—and how Baby College can help. From birth, infants demonstrate a remarkable readiness to engage with the world around them. Whether it’s…
Empowering Women Through Baby College: Changing Lives Around the World I recently had the privilege of visiting Istanbul, where I met with some of our amazing Turkish franchisees. Baby College now has eight thriving franchises in Turkey, and hearing their stories of resilience, gratitude, and empowerment was truly inspiring. For these women, running a Baby…
Nature, Nurture, and the Role of Parents Every parent of more than one child can tell you how different their children are, even from birth. One baby might be calm and watchful, while their sibling could be loud and energetic. These differences aren’t coincidental—they’re rooted in baby personality development, a foundation largely influenced by genetics…
Dive into Summer: Introducing Swimming for Babies With holidays in full swing, now is an ideal time to introduce your baby or toddler to the joys of swimming. This new adventure is not only fun but also beneficial, helping your little one develop coordination, balance, muscle tone, and overall fitness. For new parents, the thought…
How Babies Make Friends: A Journey of Social Discovery How Babies Make Friends: First Friends From the moment your baby is born, you, your partner, and any siblings are her first friends. Babies are inherently social beings, and they start forming connections based on their early experiences with family members. In these initial months, your…
Babies enter a world of endless possibilities, brimming with opportunities for learning. As parents, understanding the various types of learning play for 0-3 year-olds becomes crucial in nurturing their cognitive and social development. In this blog, we’ll explore the different stages of learning play, emphasizing the importance of active engagement and providing insights on how…
Are baby classes worth it? So many reasons but social development is one of the most important. Raising a baby is a wonderful journey, especially seeing them grow socially. Have you ever wondered how they learn to connect with others? Or when they start making their first friends? Right from the beginning, your baby begins…
Understanding your baby’s personality One of the more challenging (and interesting) aspects of parenting is the realisation that your baby’s personality is not a replica of yours – they have their own unique temperament. This can be even more challenging for you when their temperament traits are completely at odds with your own! What…