ABSTRACT
This chapter acknowledges the significance of ‘home’ in a child’s life and the importance of Early Years practitioners and parents working together. Home should be a safe place for children with parents and other family members providing support and encouragement as the child develops, but one needs to acknowledge that this is not the case for all children. Learning to ride a bike is an important life skill for young children, enabling them to explore their environment, play with other children and keep healthy. Learning to swim is an important survival skill, but it is also a great way for children to have fun with their friends and family and a good way to keep fit. Many families no longer routinely sit down together every day to eat a meal at home and this may explain why so many children struggle with the skills associated with eating a meal when they start Early Years.
