Whether you're caring for a 1 year old who's just found their feet or a 10 year old navigating friendship drama, knowing what to expect at each stage makes a real difference.
These guides are here to support you, whether you're new to a family, watching a child grow up year by year, or just looking to brush up on what's normal for the age you're working with.
📖 What's in each guide?
Every guide follows the same structure, so once you know your way around one, you'll know your way around all of them. Here's what you'll find inside:
🌍 Welcome to their world - a quick intro to what makes this age tick, what's changing for them, and a note on gender and development.
⭐ Things they can do - what to expect physically, in terms of language, thinking and learning, and socially and emotionally.
🎨 Things to do together - practical activity ideas that fit where they are developmentally, from messy play and story time to board games and cooking.
🌱 How their bodies change - useful facts on growth, sleep, eating, and physical milestones.
💛 Helping them thrive - tips on how to support their development in the day to day, from building independence to fostering a love of learning.
🧩 Handling the tricky bits - honest, practical guidance on the common challenges at each age, like tantrums, testing boundaries, friendship drama, and lying.
🛡️ Keeping them safe - age-specific safety advice covering things like road safety, food, water, and online safety.
🤝 Working with parents - what to share with the family, what to keep an eye on, and how to have useful conversations.
🔔 When to speak up - a clear list of things to flag to parents because every child develops differently and it's important to know what to look out for.
✨ Final thoughts - a warm send off with a reminder of what your role really means at this stage.
🔍 Find your guide
Below you'll find the direct link to each age guide. We'd suggest downloading the one (or ones) most relevant to the children you're currently caring for and keeping it somewhere handy.
💡 A few things worth knowing
Development varies hugely between children. The guides describe what's typical, not what every child will do. Don't worry if the child you're caring for is a bit ahead or behind, use the guide as a reference, not a checklist.
They're designed to be used alongside the family. The parents know their child best. Use the guides to help you ask better questions, notice things worth sharing, and feel more confident in how you're supporting their child's development.
You might find it useful to read ahead. If a child is approaching a birthday, having a look at the next guide can help you prepare for what's coming and spot it when it arrives.
If you have any questions about the guides or working with a specific age group, get in touch with us and we'll be happy to help.