Traditional opportunities for children to gain hand-eye co-ordination skills also come through play activities. Sand, water and construction play all provide useful chances for children to master movements, but it is worth thinking about how we enable children to show greater precision.

Singing has traditionally been a key way in which adults have connected with each other and also with children. There are many benefits when adults sing with children. Understanding these is perhaps the first step in making sure that sing- ing is given priority status both in children’s homes and also in early years settings.

Social skills are the conventions and actions that children need to learn in order to make and keep friends, but also to flourish as they move from home into other social situations. Children who have strong social skills often have an easier journey through childhood before going out into the wider world.