St Helens Borough Council is showing its support to a new national campaign to encourage parents to bond with their baby the best they can.   

As part of British child protection charity NSPCC’s Look, Say, Sing, Play initiative, the council is working with a number of health and childcare professionals across Merseyside to help parents and carers support their children, from new-born to two-year-olds.

The campaign provides tips and hints on how to help your child’s brain develop and to strengthen your bond with them, whether it’s during play time, bath time or bedtime – using silly voices or singing – it’s a great way to have fun while building your child’s cognitive skills from a young age.

With ensuring children and young people have a positive start in life a key priority, the council already has a number of free activities available which encourage parent and child bonding and learning, including St Helens Library Service’s popular Read and Rhyme Time sessions which introduce toddlers to books, rhymes, music and other fun – while council-run children’s centres provide a safe space for families to come together to meet new people and help get little ones ready for school.

Starting Monday 21 March, St Helens Library Service will be delivering a very special version of read and rhyme time, with Baby Rhyme Time sessions for 0–2-year-olds held at Moss Bank Library and Newton-le-Willows Library incorporating the Look, Say, Sing, Play model.

Showing her support for the campaign, Councillor Nova Charlton, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Every time you talk, sing or play with your baby, you’re not just bonding, you’re building their brain which is crucial at such a young age as it will influence a positive development.    

“We’re delighted to show our support to such an important campaign, as it’s an opportunity to shout about the fantastic work that we are doing through our own council services, like in our libraries and children centres, which play their part in helping set young children up on their way to have the best start in life.”   

To find out more about the Look, Say, Sing, Play campaign, visit: https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/schools-education/early-years/look-say-sing-play/   

For St Helens Library Service activities, including Read and Rhyme Time as well as Baby Rhyme Time timetables, go to https://sthlibrarieswp.koha-ptfs.co.uk/whats-on/  

Find your nearest children’s centre by visiting:  www.sthelens.gov.uk/childrenscentres