Urdd Eisteddfod launch for NSPCC campaign to boost babies’ brains through ‘Look Say Sing Play’

• NSPCC Cymru/Wales is launching ‘Look Say Sing Play’in Wales at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Cardiff.

• ‘Look, Say, Sing, Play’ seeks to build on the interaction parents are already having with their child, bringing everyday moments into focus and showing how they offer the chance to engage with their baby. 

• A survey found that more than half of parents surveyed in Wales were not aware of the importance of back and forth interaction with a baby aged up to three months in their development.

• Thursday 30 May

A CAMPAIGN designed to help bolster the development of babies’ brains has been launched in Wales at the Urdd Eisteddfod by NSPCC Cymru/Wales.

‘Look, Say, Sing, Play’ aims to show parents and carers why taking a cue from their infant and reacting to what they’re doing is so important.

A survey conducted by the NSPCC and 2CV found that more than half (51 per cent) of the parents surveyed in Wales were not aware that back and forth interaction with a baby aged up to three months boosted their social, emotional and cognitive development.

Research has shown that when an infant babbles, gestures or cries and an adult responds positively with eye contact, words or a hug, neural connections are built and strengthened in the child’s brain.¹

‘Look, Say, Sing, Play’ seeks to build on the interaction parents are already having with their child, bringing everyday moments into focus and showing how they offer the chance to engage with their baby.

Supporting parents to have these really attentive interactions with their babies can also help to prevent abuse and neglect happening as the child grows older.²

Des Mannion, the head of NSPCC Cymru/Wales, said:

“You don’t have to change your routine to have brain-building moments with your baby. Whether it’s bath-time, bed-time or you’re popping to the shops, there are always moments when you can look, talk, sing and play with your baby.

“In Wales, the ‘Look, Say, Sing, Play’ resources are available in both English and Welsh and we hope they will resonate with parents and expectant parents and provide some new and simple ideas to help them with early engagement with their child.”

Jane Barlow, president of The Association for Infant Mental Health (AIMH UK) said:

“This campaign builds on current evidence about the importance of interactions between parents and carers and their babies, highlighting the benefits for the rapidly developing architecture of the baby’s brain and their capacity for emotional regulation.

“These are key aspects of development that promote children’s social, emotional, behavioural and cognitive functioning thereby giving them the best start in life”

The NSPCC has also created a campaign video with tips for parents and more details about ‘Look, Say, Sing, Play’ campaign can also be found at nspcc.org.uk.

Lansio ymgyrch yr NSPCC i hbu ymennydd babanod drwy ‘Edrych Dweud Canu Chwarae’ yn Eisteddfod yr Urdd

• Mae NSPCC Cymru/Wales yn lansio ‘Edrych Dweud Canu Chwarae’yng Nghymru yn Eisteddfod yr Urdd yng Nghaerdydd.

• Mae ‘Edrych, Dweud, Canu, Chwarae’yn ceisio adeiladu ar y rhyngweithio sy’n digwydd yn barod rhwng rhieni a’u plentyn, gan ganolbwyntio ar bethau sy’n digwydd bob dydd a dangos sut maen nhw’n cynnig cyfle i rieni gysylltu â’u babi. 

• Canfu arolwg nad oedd mwy na hanner y rhieni a holwyd yng Nghymru yn ymwybodol o bwysigrwydd rhyngweithio yn ôl ac ymlaen gyda babi hyd at dri mis oed o ran ei ddatblygiad.

• Dydd Iau 30 Mai

MAE ymgyrch sydd wedi’i bwriadu i helpu i hybu datblygiad ymennydd babanod wedi cael ei lansio yng Nghymru yn Eisteddfod yr Urdd gan NSPCC Cymru/Wales.

Nod ‘Edrych, Dweud, Canu, Chwarae’yw dangos i rieni a gofalwyr pam mae hi mor bwysig cael eich arwain gan eich plentyn ac ymateb i’r hyn y mae’n ei wneud.

Canfu arolwg a gynhaliwyd gan yr NSPCC a 2CV nad oedd mwy na hanner (51 y cant) o’r rhieni a holwyd yng Nghymru yn gwybod bod rhyngweithio yn ôl ac ymlaen gyda babi hyd at dri mis oed yn hybu ei ddatblygiad cymdeithasol, emosiynol a gwybyddol.

Pan fydd babi bach yn preblan, yn gwneud ystumiau neu’n crïo a bod oedolyn yn ymateb yn gadarnhaol â chyswllt llygaid,geiriau neu drwy afael ynddo, mae ymchwil wedi dangos bod cysylltiadau niwral yn cael eu creu a’u cryfhau yn ymennydd y plentyn.¹

Mae ‘Edrych, Dweud, Canu, Chwarae’yn ceisio adeiladu ar y rhyngweithio sy’n digwydd yn barod rhwng rhieni a’u plentyn, gan ganolbwyntio ar bethau sy’n digwydd bob dydd a dangos sut maen nhw’n cynnig cyfle i rieni gysylltu â’u babi.

Mae helpu rhieni i sylwi’n fanwl ar eu babi drwy ymwneud fel hyn hefyd yn gallu bod yn help i atal camdriniaeth ac esgeulustod wrth i’r plentyn dyfu’n hŷn.²

Dywedodd Des Mannion, pennaeth NSPCC Cymru/Wales:

“Does dim rhaid ichi newid patrwm eich diwrnod i gael adegau hybu’r ymennydd gyda’ch babi. P’un a yw’n hi’n amser bath, yn amser gwely, neu os ydych yn picio i’r siopau, mae yna wastad adegau pan allwch chi edrych, siarad, canu a chwarae gyda’ch babi.

“Yng Nghymru, mae’r adnoddau ‘Edrych, Dweud, Canu, Chwarae’ar gael yn Gymraeg a Saesneg ac rydym yn gobeithio y byddan nhw’n taro tant gyda rhieni arhieni sy’n disgwyl ac yn cynnig syniadau newydd a syml i’w helpu i ymwneud yn gynnar â’u plentyn.”

Dywedodd Jane Barlow, llywydd y Gymdeithas dros Iechyd Meddwl Babanod (AIMH UK):

“Mae’r ymgyrch hon yn adeiladu ar y dystiolaeth sydd gennym eisoes am bwysigrwydd rhyngweithio rhwng rhieni a gofalwyr a’u babanod, ac mae’n tynnu sylw at y manteision i bensaernïaeth ymennydd y babi, sy’n datblygu’n gyflym, ac i allu’r plentyn i reoli emosiynau.

“Mae’r rhain yn agweddau allweddol ar ddatblygu sy’n hybu gweithrediad cymdeithasol, emosiynol, ymddygiadol a gwybyddol plant gan roi’r cychwyn gorau mewn bywyd iddynt felly.”

Mae’r NSPCC hefyd wedi creu ymgyrch fideogyda chynghorion i rieni a gallwch gael rhagor o fanylion am ymgyrch ‘Edrych, Dweud, Canu, Chwarae’ ar wefan nspcc.org.uk.