Parents could get a DVD showing them how to play with their children
Filed under: Advice And Health
PA
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has suggested 'health visitors or midwives should consider using interactive video guidance' to help mums bond with their babies.
It says this could 'improve maternal sensitivity, mother-infant attachment and the child's behaviour'.
In new draft guidance on Social and Emotional Wellbeing: Early Years, NICE say that health visitors and nursery teachers should play a bigger role in families who are struggling with young children.
The interactive video idea could be implemented if the mum has depression or if the baby shows signs of behaviourial difficulties.
NICE also suggest that systems should be put in place to make sure infants under five are equipped and ready for school, saying they need to be able to socialise with other youngsters, go to the toilet independently and take instructions from teachers. It says that focusing on supporting the social and emotional wellbeing of vulnerable children is imperative for their healthy development, and to offset the risks relating to their disadvantages.
It says it aims to 'meet the broader goal of children's services' to 'ensure all children have the best start in life' with a range of universal and targeted services to support children's physical, as well as their mental health and wellbeing.
They suggest that when families are not registered with a GP, health and education workers should be 'knocking on doors', and visiting churches and play centres to establish contact with 'hard to reach vulnerable parents'.
It also calls for identifying vulnerable families before the child is even born to ensure they get the right help.
What do you think about this? A bit Big Brother, or totally necessary to ensure that all children are well looked after?
Lovely times children bring us
- Eating children's food<p> Which parent hasn’t served up kids' favourites like fish fingers and baked beans, then finished up the leftovers or used the children as an excuse to gorge on more ice cream?</p>
- Cloud watching<p> Before becoming a mum or dad you were too busy to look up. Now, on at least one day a summer, you end up lying on your back in the grass looking at the shapes in the clouds.</p>
- Learning stuff<p> Tired of being asked how everything works, or what it’s called, you find yourself glad that you’ve made the effort to identify the names of trees or find out how planes can fly.</p>
- The magic of Christmas<p> Before parenthood the big day saw you watching relatives snoring in front of the TV and getting bad presents. Now you get a thrill making up stockings for excited kids.</p>
- Playing with toys<p> Before having children if you told your friends you’d spent the weekend playing with a train set or mucking about with Play-Doh they’d have probably had you locked up.</p>
- Laughing<p> Once you probably had to go to a comedy club to get a good belly laugh. Now, even after a bad day, you find yourself amused at your kids’ antics.</p>
- Having picnics<p> As a couple you used to eat out quite a bit. Now, short of cash, eating al fresco at a beauty spot not only seems fun, it’s so much easier than trying to make kids behave in restaurants.</p>
- Chidren's TV<p> At first shows like In The Night Garden seemed weird. Now you’re its biggest fan. Plus you’ve got the excuse to buy that DVD box set of Danger Mouse - really for you, not them.</p>
- Child-like activities<p> Before your brood came along when was the last time you tried to draw a picture, build a sandcastle or sing a song while walking along the High Street? </p>
- Going bonkers for conkers<p> When was the last time you picked up the shiny autumn wonders? Now you can’t wait to thread on strings and challenge youngsters to a match.</p>
- Creature comforts<p> Your life has gone animal crazy. It seems that every other weekend you’re at a zoo chuckling at chimpanzees or stroking rabbits at a kid's farm</p>
- Reading classic books<p> Suddenly you’ve never done so much reading. You get the chance to enjoy all those classics like Winnie The Pooh and Treasure Island all over again without embarrassment.</p>
- Time to yourself<p> Those precious nights out with your other half, the rare lie-in or just chilling out on the sofa when the children have gone to bed have never seemed quite so sweet.</p>
- Natural wonders<p> Since having a child you’ve spent more time looking at flowers than ever before and thanks to jumping in puddles or making snowmen you enjoy the seasons changing more.</p>
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