Tips & tales • Nipperbout •

Janthea Brigden shares “tales” about working in the event childcare industry and gives useful “tips” for childcare professionals and parents.

More about Janthea

February 2024

How do we fix our children’s attention spans?

In a world of TikTok and Netflix, the battle for our children's attention span is constant. But is there anything we can do to improve it?

December 2023

Five ways to tackle stress in pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the most transformative times in a woman’s life which can also bring stress, but too much can be harmful for you and the baby.

October 2023

'Take care of your boy': How can we teach boys emotional literacy?

Suicide rates for young men have doubled in the past decade. We delve into how we can teach boys to recognise and express their emotions and ask for help.

September 2023

Is our education system fit for purpose?

As schools go back across the UK, Janthea explores whether or not our education system is fit for purpose, and how the government could adapt it for future generations.

August 2023

Five benefits of listening to music with your child

Music is a powerful force whatever the age, but did you know it can actually change the structure of your child's brain?

August 2023

Should you post photos of your child on social media?

Whilst we probably wouldn't post a photo of our friend on Facebook without their consent, when it comes to sharing photos of our children, we often don't give it a second thought.

July 2023

Five ways to teach personal space to your child

We teach children to give others personal space, but how often do we give a thought to invading theirs?

May 2023

The hidden impacts of birth trauma

A traumatic birth has been long thought to only affect mothers but it can have short and long-term impacts on the baby too.

May 2023

Do babies really need routines?

Whether or not you need routine for your baby is a contentious topic among new parents, but do babies actually benefit from rigid routines?

May 2023

Five reasons for dads to be more hands-on with their babies

Research shows that dads being more involved with their newborns has many mutual benefits. Here are some of the reasons Dad-time is important.

March 2023

Can exercise make our children more intelligent?

We all understand the many benefits of exercise for physical health but how does being active affect our children's brains?

February 2023

Five ways to swap praise for validation

What is the difference between praise and validation? And how can we use the power of validation to make our children feel more secure and self-confident?

December 2022

Elf on the shelf: Festive fun or Christmas coercion?

Whilst it may seem like a bit of harmless fun, is this surveillance-like tradition harming children?

November 2022

The trauma of being lost

It can be a traumatic experience to become separated from a child. These are some of the after-effects you and the child may feel, and how to manage them.

October 2022

Five tips for a fear-free Halloween

Halloween can be a frightening experience for some children. Here are some fun tips for making it fear-free for children of all ages!

October 2022

"Remember when...?": Celebrating 30 years of Nipperbout!

As we celebrate 30 years, we share some of our favourite memories over three decades of running a childcare company.

October 2022

Should you co-sleep with your child?

For most of human history, parents have slept close to their babies, yet co-sleeping has become frowned upon in modern day society. Are there benefits to co-sleeping and how can we do it safely?

September 2022

Five benefits of long-term breastfeeding

Long-term breastfeeding is the term used to describe breastfeeding your child for longer than the first 12 months. Although not always culturally accepted in our society, it is likely to have many benefits.

September 2022

Why are cuddly toys so important to children?

What is it that makes stuffed animals such an important part of childhood? And do they serve an important emotional and developmental purpose?

August 2022

Words that often hurt us: Five ways to reframe ‘failure’ for children

It is amazing how often we inadvertently tell children they’ve ‘failed’. Here are five easy ways we can 'reframe' failure to motivate and empower our children.

July 2022

Do we have a culture of criticising children?

Often the language we use can unintentionally demoralise and put children down. So why do we do it, and how can we avoid using unnecessarily negative language with our children?

July 2022

Should we let our children engage in risky play?

Taking measured risks can help children grow psychologically and socially, so should we let them take risks? And how can we do it safely?

June 2022

Is a child's behaviour ever ‘good’ or ‘bad’?

Why shouldn’t we use words such as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ when talking about children and their actions?

June 2022

“Do you want a smack?”: Six reasons you should never smack your child

If it is illegal and morally unacceptable to strike another adult then why is it still acceptable to smack a child?

May 2022

Seven ways to communicate with a toddler during tantrums

Toddler tantrums are inevitable but the way that you deal with them can make a big difference. So what can we do to help our children?

April 2022

Should Early Years settings introduce barefoot play?

Research is uncovering many physical and mental health benefits to going barefoot. So isn't it time we started to introduce barefoot play into our childcare settings?

April 2022

Eight benefits of learning outdoors

Research has shown the many physical and psychological benefits of spending time outdoors. So shouldn't more of our children's learning be done outside too?

March 2022

Men in crèches: Why are males still treated differently?

How comfortable would you feel handing your baby or toddler to a male Early Years professional?

March 2022

Seven things a child's 'problem' behaviour is trying to tell you.

Is the science we need to understand the developing brain already shown to us daily in the natural behaviours of children?

February 2022

Five benefits of playing with your child

Did you know that engaging in imaginative play actually helps children’s brains to grow? Here are some other ways in which it helps, and tips on how to do it best!

September 2021

10 Tips for going back to school

One man’s fear is another man’s excitement and so it is for children returning to school. Some can’t wait to go back and others may be feeling anxious. Here are 10 useful tips for easing the transition from home to school.

July 2021

Eight tips for going to festivals with children

Festival season is here again and it's a great opportunity for Family Fun and reconnecting. These simple, practical tips will help ensure enjoyment for all!

May 2021

Half-term hacks for harassed parents!

Are you wondering how to keep the family happy and occupied this half term? Here are some ideas and thoughts that will help.

May 2021

Eight ways we can help children to open up

"Fine" is a frustrating and frequent response parents hear when asking about their child's day. Here are 8 ways parents can support their children to move beyond just "fine" and tell you how they're really feeling.

November 2020

Play away the lockdown blues!

Research shows that playing and laughter release natural chemicals in the body (endorphins) which make us feel good! They relieve stress, promote well being and even reduce aches and pains.

September 2020

Helping your child to process change.

Renewing friendships after being apart for so long, potentially needing to 'catch up' on schoolwork, coping with bubbles, masks and growing up.

May 2020

Positive Phrasing

Telling people what they CAN do rather than what they can't, is more likely to achieve the desired result!

May 2020

Lockdown with Little ones!

If you are locked down with a toddler, I envy you! That probably sounds mad, but I really do!

April 2020

Home Schooling and running a business!

When this period of enforced home schooling is over, what do you hope will be your best achievement?

October 2019

Dyslexia rocks!!

When you discover your child has a learning difficulty, it's hard to know how to cope. My tips from first hand experience!

February 2019

Mind Your Language: How to Skyrocket a Child’s Confidence!

How does the language we use affect children's self-confidence and self-worth?

February 2019

What Can Disney's Aladdin Teach Children About Self-Worth?

A desert rat or Prince Ali? What can Disney's Aladdin teach children about self-worth?

January 2019

I Resolve – NOT to Resolve!

We're at the end of the first full week of 2019 already - but how many of those resolutions that were made at the end of 2018 are still intact and being observed? This year, Nipperbout's Janthea Brigden has taken an alternative view of planning...

December 2018

Presents vs Presence – by an increasingly Grumpy Old Woman

What is the true spirit of Christmas - and what is the true nature of giving? Nipperbout's Janthea Brigden scrutinises the issue - with the help of those closest to her...

October 2018

Planning Lost Child Services at events – top tips for excellent event management

Event organisers are putting the finishing touches to the next round of public events aimed at taking us through Hallowe’en, Bonfire night, Diwali and on to the festive season. Beyond content, performers, infrastructure and pricing though, how much thought – and action – have they put into Lost Child care? It’s a serious consideration, as Nipperbout's Co-founder Janthea Brigden points out...

September 2018

Do we want “Good” children? (continuation)

Last month Nipperbout's Janthea Brigden began a two part blog about the notion of "Good" and "Bad" in children. In this second part, she looks at exterior stimuli and how they shape the next generation. If practices widely used in the adult world to manage behaviour and performance, why shouldn't they also be used with younger people?

August 2018

Do we want “Good” children?

The concepts of "Good and "Bad" are easy enough to understand as opposites - but what do they mean in terms of children and their behaviour - and are they absolutes? In the first of a two-part blog, Nipperbout's co-founder Janthea Brigden gves her view, based on over a quarter of a century of professional experience...

July 2018

10 Top Tips for Trouble-Free Travel Times

The summer holidays are with us - but the process of travelling - particularly with little ones - can be made a lot simpler and less stressful by following Janthea Brigden's top ten tips...

May 2018

Should babies give their consent before we change their nappies?

On the face of it it's a strange concept to consider - and yet it's one with which Nipperbout's Co-Founder Janthea Brigden is very comfortable with. Responding to something debated recently in the media - with a degree of sensationalism - Janthea puts the case for a fundamental part of the Parent-Baby relationship...

May 2018

A Plug for our Perfectly Personable Purple People!

In this month's blog, Nipperbout's Co-Founder, Janthea Brigden sets out what it takes to become one of the company's famed Purple People. Known throughout the industry, they are the kind of can-do individuals who bring so much joy - and learning - to the little ones.

March 2018

Making the MOST of Mother’s Day

Is Mother’s Day just commercial bunkum? Nipperbout's co-founder Janthea Brigden takes a modern day look at a centuries old institution and asks who it is that REALLY needs to be reminded about mothers and what they do...

February 2018

Lost Children Need Government Support

It's a quarter of a century since one of the most reviled child murders of modern times - the death of James Bulger shocked the nation. In this additional blog Janthea Brigden suggests that something needs to be done at the highest level to protect children - and those who seek to protect them...

February 2018

How can parents help Children stay safe online?

Were you aware of SID recently? Safer Internet Day aims to highlight the use of the technology in general and the internet in particular. Here, Janthea Brigden looks at how following a few simple steps can truly transform the experience of cyberspace into something far more secure for our children, and something far more reassuring for us as parents and grandparents...

December 2017

Three resolutions every family should have for the New Year!

Are you trying to keep New Year Resolutions? As 2018 begins, Nipperbout's Janthea Brigden looks forward with a few top tips that are not only essential to surviving the coming days, but also everything that year brings with it...

December 2017

Connecting at Christmas

In this, her final blog of the year, Janthea offers a suggestion as to how, with a change of attitude to our 24/7, constantly online world we might dis-engage with technology and re-engage with family and friends, to the longer term benefit of all.

November 2017

Lost Children at Events!

In this month's article, Janthea gives timely advice to public event organisers about their legal responsibilities regarding young people, as well as how to best protect themselves and their organisations.

October 2017

Doing Business in Europe thanks to the Brexit Referendum

The Nipperbout team has been working in Spain and Italy recently - here, I reflect on what we've been learning by doing so...

September 2017

Grenfell 2: Parents, Providers, Purple People and our continued journey together

Our continued work with the people of the Grenfell Tower community has been paying dividends in a wider sense than we first envisaged. Here, I look back on that work as well as ahead to some of the challenges that are still to be encountered - and which Nipperbout has already been preparing that community for...

August 2017

Gentle Support for the Grenfell Generations

Nipperbout is in the process of bringing support to some the families caught up in the Grenfell Tower fire diaster - it's also helping the helpers...

July 2017

A Magnificent Milestone

2017 has already been a milestone year for me, because it was twenty-five years ago that the embryonic version of what has since become Nipperbout first saw the light of day. And what a ride it’s been to have reached this far.

June 2017

FINDING THE MIDDLE WAY WITH MELTDOWNS

When we become 'emotionally flooded' we loose the power to think clearly. Here are some useful tips for when our children are in meltdown mode!

June 2017

Picking up the pieces by loosening the ties

When terrible things happen, our instinct is to gather our children close, but is that really helpful in the long run?

May 2017

Be kind – 5 top tips for dealing with bullying

Regognising the signs, acknowledging the feelings and above all, listening to your child, is key.

May 2017

Event organisers: 5 things you need to ask before running childcare at your event

Mobile crèches have unique challenges, minimise the risks with some simple checks.

April 2017

Will we ever change the way we speak to children?

Recommended strategies for looking after and talking to children seem so logical and obvious to me, that I struggle to understand why they aren’t universally practiced in 2017!

April 2017

Gender neutral pronouns ; “Is ‘Ze’ just another label?”

Same sex toilets, same sex clothes, 75 facebook gender choices and a choice of pronouns - gender has never been so confusing!

March 2017

4 top tips for communicating with deaf children

Understanding the issues and making small, reasonable changes can make a world of difference to a deaf child!

February 2017

Do children need chocolate?

Stopping children eating sweets is easy. You just have to care enough to say 'no'!

February 2017

Pudding first - how non verbal communication is key to negotiating with our children

How often is your body language and facial experssion at odds with the words you are saying? If we send out a 'mixed message' then children will struggle to know what we want!

January 2017

What it takes to be one of the “Best” in childcare

Listening to customers, staying true to our ethos, embracing change and constantly up dating procedures, is just part of the formula!

January 2017

Is Parenting similar to cooking?

There is no set receipe for parenting. A little bit of this and a little bit of that, is what produces a unique, individual!

January 2017

First-time mum

Uncle Bill's advice - ask yourself, "Will they still be doing it when they are 21?" If the answer is 'no', stop worrying about it!

Tips &Tales

How do we fix our children’s attention spans?

Five ways to tackle stress in pregnancy

'Take care of your boy': How can we teach boys emotional literacy?

Is our education system fit for purpose?

Five benefits of listening to music with your child

Should you post photos of your child on social media?

Five ways to teach personal space to your child

The hidden impacts of birth trauma

Do babies really need routines?

Five reasons for dads to be more hands-on with their babies

Can exercise make our children more intelligent?

Five ways to swap praise for validation

Elf on the shelf: Festive fun or Christmas coercion?

The trauma of being lost

Five tips for a fear-free Halloween

"Remember when...?": Celebrating 30 years of Nipperbout!

Should you co-sleep with your child?

Five benefits of long-term breastfeeding

Why are cuddly toys so important to children?

Words that often hurt us: Five ways to reframe ‘failure’ for children

Do we have a culture of criticising children?

Should we let our children engage in risky play?

Is a child's behaviour ever ‘good’ or ‘bad’?

“Do you want a smack?”: Six reasons you should never smack your child

Seven ways to communicate with a toddler during tantrums

Should Early Years settings introduce barefoot play?

Eight benefits of learning outdoors

Men in crèches: Why are males still treated differently?

Seven things a child's 'problem' behaviour is trying to tell you.

Five benefits of playing with your child

10 Tips for going back to school

Eight tips for going to festivals with children

Half-term hacks for harassed parents!

Eight ways we can help children to open up

Play away the lockdown blues!

Helping your child to process change.

Positive Phrasing

Lockdown with Little ones!

Home Schooling and running a business!

Dyslexia rocks!!

Mind Your Language: How to Skyrocket a Child’s Confidence!

What Can Disney's Aladdin Teach Children About Self-Worth?

I Resolve – NOT to Resolve!

Presents vs Presence – by an increasingly Grumpy Old Woman

Planning Lost Child Services at events – top tips for excellent event management

Do we want “Good” children? (continuation)

Do we want “Good” children?

10 Top Tips for Trouble-Free Travel Times

Should babies give their consent before we change their nappies?

A Plug for our Perfectly Personable Purple People!

Making the MOST of Mother’s Day

Lost Children Need Government Support

How can parents help Children stay safe online?

Three resolutions every family should have for the New Year!

Connecting at Christmas

Lost Children at Events!

Doing Business in Europe thanks to the Brexit Referendum

Grenfell 2: Parents, Providers, Purple People and our continued journey together

Gentle Support for the Grenfell Generations

A Magnificent Milestone

FINDING THE MIDDLE WAY WITH MELTDOWNS

Picking up the pieces by loosening the ties

Be kind – 5 top tips for dealing with bullying

Event organisers: 5 things you need to ask before running childcare at your event

Will we ever change the way we speak to children?

Gender neutral pronouns ; “Is ‘Ze’ just another label?”

4 top tips for communicating with deaf children

Do children need chocolate?

Pudding first - how non verbal communication is key to negotiating with our children

What it takes to be one of the “Best” in childcare

Is Parenting similar to cooking?

First-time mum

Tips &
Tales