Are you pregnant, about to go on maternity leave, and wondering what else you need to sort out before you do so? You may be looking forward to those quiet few weeks before baby arrives, or may be planning to work almost up until your due date. Relax in the knowledge that we’ve got you covered in our essential checklist – and avoid any last-minute surprises.
Looking for fun activities with your baby or toddler? There are thousands of classes and groups on Happity. Find one you’ll love here.
What Do I Need To Sort At Work Before I Go On Maternity Leave?
1. Make Sure You Give Your Employer The Correct Notice For Maternity Leave And Pay
You’ll likely have already done this, but you need to inform your employer you’re intending to take Statutory Maternity Leave at least 15 weeks before your due date. To clam Statutory Maternity Pay, you need to give your employer at least 28 days notice in writing of when you would like this to start. You’ll need to show either your MATB1 certificate or letter from your midwife/doctor so your employer can pay you SMP.
Is someone coming in as maternity cover while you’re off? If so, arrange a handover meeting for at least a couple of hours or a morning or afternoon with them if you can. Try and do this as soon as possible (you may have a slight overlap, or they may come in specifically for a handover meeting) so they can shadow you and you can be around long enough to answer their questions. If you’re passing part of your job to an existing colleague (or two), a handover meeting will also help you pass over the reigns, and help set your mind at rest that your colleagues know what to expect when you’re not there. A smooth maternity cover and transition equals a smoother return to work.
3. Talk To Your Boss About Keeping In Touch Days
While it may feel a little early to think about your return to work, it’s worth checking with your employer if they’re willing to offer Keeping In Touch days as and when you feel ready to come in during your maternity leave. Usually employers can offer up to ten paid KIT days, which can be really beneficial to you financially (particularly if you’re in the unpaid stage of maternity leave), as well as helping you feel more confident about returning. You usually won’t need to firm up any dates at this stage, but it’s useful to know the process of who to contact and when later on.
4. Consider Extending (Or Shortening) Your Maternity Leave
If you have any holiday allowance, consider tagging this onto either the start or end of your maternity leave. This can allow you to be paid, either before you have your baby or when your maternity leave has come to an end. There’s also some unpaid leave (called Unpaid Parental Leave) you could consider taking. You’re allowed four weeks per year per child (up to a total of 18 weeks up to their 18th birthday) so you could realistically add this onto the end of your maternity leave if your employer agrees to the timing.There’s no rush to decide this before you go on maternity leave, but it may be worth mentioning it to your boss if it’s something you’re considering.
Equally, you may know already that you intend to return to work once your Statutory Maternity Pay comes to an end (usually at 30 weeks) or sooner. Or you may be thinking of taking Shared Parental Leave with your partner and want to discuss with your employer how this could pan out. Again, it’s not a decision you have to make right now as you only have to give 8 weeks’ written notice, but you may want to check your eligibility here as part of your long-term planning.
5. Consider Your Return To Work – Maternity Leave Checklist
There are some mums who know from the offset that they are planning to stay home and raise their child for longer than maternity leave. In this way, they might choose to hand in their notice before they even go on maternity leave. Financially, this can make it easier to budget as they will only be claiming the statutory part of their maternity pay and there’s nothing to pay back to their employer if they quit.
Other mums may think about handing in their notice but will wait until they’re into the depths of maternity leave before deciding. As long as you give the appropriate notice before you would be due to return – whether this is one month, two months, a term or different. Just bear in mind that you may need to pay back a proportion of your maternity pay (if you’ve received enhanced maternity pay) to your employer. You’d need to return to work for a minimum of however long it states in your contract to keep all your pay (but remember you may be able to take some of this time as holiday).
What Do I Need To Sort At Home Before I Go On Maternity Leave?
1. Make Sure You Have A Maternity Exemption Certificate
You probably sorted this one out ages ago, but if not, a MATEX certificate exempts you from paying any NHS dental or prescription charges. It’s valid for during pregnancy and up until your child’s first birthday. If you live in Scotland, make sure you claim your free baby box.
2. Review Finances – Maternity Leave Checklist
Now is a good time to sit down with your partner and check through what outgoings and incomings you will jointly have over the planned period of your maternity leave. Even a very simple spreadsheet will help you with budgeting – once less thing to worry about when you’re caught up with feeding, sleeping and caring for your newborn. Check here for our guide on how to save money on maternity leave. This will also help you if you have any doubts about how long to go on maternity leave, if you are sharing maternity leave at all, and at what stage you are planning to return to work – if at all.
You’ll likely attend childbirth classes a month or a couple of months before your baby is due, so you’ll probably not be on maternity leave yet. While it might feel a lot to juggle, attending free NHS antenatal classes on childbirth can help make you and your partner feel that little bit more confident on what to expect. Look out for NCT (National Childbirth Trust) classes in your local area too. While you may/will have to pay for these classes, they are longer sessions, so you can really get to grips with the ins and outs of childbirth and how to care for your newborn. Often run at weekends, most parents who attend them say they are invaluable in forming new support networks and getting to know other parents in your area in a similar life stage. Friendships can last years, well beyond the baby years.
4. Discuss Shared Parental Leave With Your Partner
Did you know both you and your partner could be off at the same time looking after your new baby? Shared Parental Leave is different from the 2 weeks paid leave your partner can take. It’s basically splitting your maternity leave with your partner so you can both take a proportion of the 50 weeks. You can then choose to tag-team, where your partner takes over and you go back to work. Or you can even overlap your time – but remember, this will mean you would be looking for childcare sooner, if you’re both planning to return to work.
5. Check Tax-Free Childcare
You may be starting to research childcare and Tax-Free Childcare before your child is even born. If you need any information from your employer, it’s worth making a quick note before you go on maternity leave. That way you won’t need to think about firing off emails to HR while you’re in the midst of maternity leave with your new baby.
6. Ask Around For Baby Equipment – Maternity Leave Checklist
If you know any recent new mums, it’s worth asking them for baby equipment they might still have and you might need. It’s amazing how many pram systems and other bits and bobs people have hidden away at home. This can definitely save you time later on in your maternity leave.
7. Buy Nappies, Wipes, Changing Mat And Basic Baby Outfits
Invest in some newborn nappies, nappy sacks and waterwipes so you have a stash ready for your baby’s arrival. Newborns go through 6-8 nappies per day so you’ll probably need more than you think! Also get a changing mat, some baby sleepsuits, vests and a cellular blanket or two. Of course you can do this too at the start of your maternity leave, but if you’re working close to your due date, you’ll want to avoid any last-minute rushes to the shops.
8. Start Packing Your Hospital Bag – Maternity Leave Checklist
Again, you might feel it’s a bit early to pack your hospital bag, but countless parents will tell you having your hospital bag all ready and packed can be a weight off your mind. Chances are you’ll unpack it and add to it multiple times, so why not set an evening aside to start off the process? You’ll want your partner involved too so they can find those last-minute sweets stashed in a pocket and stack of nappies in a hurry. As a minimum you will need spare clothes for you, nightwear, a magazine, snacks, maternity pads, a phone charger. For baby you will need a hat, vests, sleepsuits, a cellular blankets, nappies and wipes. Check here for our hospital bag checklist.
Want to get out and about, have fun with your baby or toddler, and meet other parents?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for the under-5s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
Are you a parent who’s wondering how best to play with your baby or toddler? Here at Happity we love all types of play and know how important play is for early childhood development. It’s the reason why Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in nurseries and schools is centred around play and it’s the reason why our class providers naturally use play in their sessions. So read on for five different ways you can play with your child and the sorts of activities you can do.
Looking for fun activities with your baby or toddler? There are thousands of classes and groups on Happity. Find one you’ll love here.
How Can Different Types Of Play In Early Childhood Benefit Your Child?
Different types of play in early childhood will help develop gross and fine motor skills, balance, coordination, social skills, cognitive problem-solving skills, imagination and creativity. It may also help your child develop a Growth Mindset as you encourage them to experiment and try out new things – which they may not get right first time round.
How Can I Find Out Which Types Of Play My Child Likes Best?
The best way to find out how your child plays best is by trying different activities, following their lead and seeing what happens. It may also depend on your child’s schema – for example, your child may like feeling contained, so will put hats or blankets over themselves, climb into tents or tunnels or hide in boxes. Or they might love physical movement so will run and jump at any opportunity. Just let your child play and explore. You might find you have a play preference as well!
What Are The Different Types Of Play In Early Childhood And How Do They Benefit Your Child?
1. Sensory Play – Play For Early Childhood Development
Using all five senses is so important for your baby or toddler. Hearing sounds, feeling the texture of objects, smelling unusual and familiar scents, tasting new foods and observing the movement of the world around them will all help your little one develop holistically. Try:
Messy play – squirting shaving foam in a tuff tray, for example
Playdough – you can make your own playdough or cloud dough
Water play – get lots of containers for pouring
Sand play – maybe add toy animals to make habitats
Musical instruments – try homemade drums with a container filled with rice
Finger painting
Magic water painting
Cleaning or washing toys together in a large bucket
Popping bubbles
Gloop (also known as Oobleck) – use cornflour to make your own
Water painting on the floor with large brushes
Which Classes Help Develop Sensory Skills For My Child And Where Can I Read More?
Your child needs to learn the ‘big’ movements (gross motor skills) before they can focus on the small, fine motor skills. Think lots of movement and motion involving the whole body to help develop balance, strength and coordination. You could try:
Running
Jumping
Dancing
Swimming
Crawling
Scooting
Soft-play
Trampolining
Swings
Ride-on toys
Kicking or pushing a ball
Chasing bubbles
Climbing – use soft play blocks
The ‘Floor Is Lava’ games – jumping on and off floor mats
Which Classes Help Develop Gross Motor Skills For My Child And Where Can I Read More?
3. Nature And Outdoor Play – Play For Early Childhood Development
Being out in the fresh air and daylight is so important, not only to help develop your baby’s Circadian rhythm [link] but also for all the opportunities for play. Stomping through mud helps develop gross motor skills and sensory awareness while a bit of exploration will help with confidence-building and decision-making skills. You can also see patterns in the natural world, for example in leaves and spider webs. Try:
Mud kitchens
Stomping through leaves and mud
Collecting leaves, twigs and acorns
Observing insects like woodlice, spiders and ladybirds
Watching animals
Making a bug hotel
Leaf printing
Digging in soil, sand or mud
Water play
Climbing trees and balancing on logs
Splashing in puddles
Planting seeds
Den building
Which Classes Help Develop Nature Play With My Child And Where Can I Read More?
Try forest schools and classes which focus on outdoor activities like gardening. Read all about the benefits of being in the great outdoors as a Viking Parent as well as some great outdoor activities you can try at home.
4. Music And Rhythm Play – Play For Early Childhood Development
Music and rhythm helps with very early maths development as well as language skills (if the music has words). As your toddler moves to music this also helps develop coordination and gross motor skills. Try:
Nursery rhymes and songs like ‘Hop Little Bunnies’
Clapping games
Classical music
Dancing to music
Musical bumps or statues
Banging drums and objects – you can use kitchen utensils for this
5. Activities Based Around Language And Storytelling
Listening to the rhythm of speech is so important for baby’s early language development and communication. Even when they can’t talk back, they will be learning about the structure of language and learning the phonetics of their mother tongue. You will notice your baby respond to the sound of familiar adults, too, whether that’s through head-turning, eye movements, smiles, gurgles or waving their arms and legs. It’s never too early to start reading with your baby and exposing them to new words as well as story structure. All brilliant for language development and cognition. Try:
Pointing at pictures (you can do this in libraries and community centres too when you’re out and about
Which Classes Promote Language Skills For My Baby Or Toddler And Where Can I Read More?
Classes you can try which use language and storytelling include baby rhyme time in your local library, storytime classes and baby signing. Read more here about the benefits of nursery rhymes for under fives here. We have loads of lovely book recommendations from 0-5 in this blog too.
6. Construction Play – Play For Early Childhood Development
Activities which involve building skills will help your child develop their early maths as well as gross motor skills.
Building bridges and towers
Constructing trainsets (like wooden Brio tracks)
Duplo or Lego
Magnetic blocks
Floor mats – you can help your child slot these together to make 3D boxes
Wooden blocks
Using tools – real or pretend
Going somewhere new (an inside or outside space) and exploring it
Pouring liquids from one container to another
Moving objects – for example, transferring stones from a toy digger
Use cardboard boxes to make cars, castles and hide-outs
Which Classes Develop Building And Construction Skills And Where Can I Read More?
Look out for toddler playgroups and stay-and-plays, which often have a lot of construction toys out for the children to play with. There are also Lego and even engineering clubs. Here are some more construction ideas for play with your baby or toddler.
7. Imaginative Play – Play For Early Childhood Development
Using imagination will help your baby or toddler develop their storytelling and also empathy skills. Try:
Make-believe using dolls, soft toys or animals
Play-cooking using play-food or playdough
Dressing up as different characters or animals
Small-world play using props or toys
Playing with toy cars and other vehicles
Playing with small toy animals
Acting out real-life scenarios like going shopping
Teddy bears picnics
Making tents and dens
Making masks
Which Classes Develop Imaginative Play For My Child And Where Can I Read More?
Look out for classes which have small-world play (like toddler playgroups) or drama classes. Here’s more about how to set up a play shop with your child.
8. Social Play – Play For Early Childhood Development
Interacting loads with your baby or toddler and playing interactive games with them will help develop social skills. Try:
Peek-A-Boo
Building or drawing something together
Rolling playdough together
Playing alongside your toddler – known as parallel play
Turn-taking games
Pulling funny faces
Sharing crayons or toys with you/another child
Passing objects to each other and back again
Which Classes Develop Social Skills For My Baby Or Toddler And Where Can I Read More?
All baby and toddler classes have a social element! If you choose something like baby signing or baby rhyme time which all have songs, you’ll find communication is key. Young children learn so much about how we interact with others, so read more here about how baby classes benefit your child (and you too!).
9. Fine Motor Skills – Play For Early Childhood Development
Fine motor skills help your baby or child manipulate objects. This helps develop dexterity hand-eye coordination. Ever heard of the fist grip, or the pincer grip? These will help with writing too when your child is old enough, but remember they need loads of gross motor skill practice before they can begin to master fine motor skills. For fine motor skills you can try:
Chalk scribbling – paving slabs give more space
Finger painting
Drawing with wax crayons
Tearing paper
Rolling and chopping up Playdoh
Wooden jigsaw puzzles
Threading beads/string threading games
Playing with smaller toys and objects
Activity packs
Which Classes Develop Fine Motor Skills For My Child And Where Can I Read More?
To develop fine motor skills, try craft classes. Or why not sign your child up for Crafting Connections, an initiative that allows children to exchange their artwork with a resident in a care home? Here are some pre-writing activities you can try at home to help with fine motor skills.
10. Problem-Solving Play – Play For Early Childhood Development
Problem-solving play will help your child develop cognitive skills. Although it can be tempting to jump in and help straightaway, try and let your baby or toddler explore the answers for themselves first. Tap into their natural curiosity and see what happens. You could try:
Shape-sorters
Scavenger/treasure hunts
Mazes
Puzzles
Matching games like pairs or snap
Counting
Dominoes
Which Classes Develop Problem-Solving With My Child And Where Can I Read More?
To develop problem-solving, why not go for a more informal toddler group, where puzzles and games will be on hand for your child to try? Read more about Growth Mindset and how to encourage problem-solving with your child.
Want to get out and about, have fun with your baby or toddler, and meet other parents?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for the under-5s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
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