Time to make child's play of improved parenting

PARENTS in Edinburgh will be encouraged to play and talk more with their children as part of a new initiative.

The Play, Talk, Read campaign was launched in the city this week and is aimed at boosting the quality of interaction between parents and their young.

Experts have said this will improve brain development at a young age and strengthen the parental bond.

Education secretary Michael Russell unveiled the programme during a visit to the North Edinburgh Childcare Centre.

He said: "The campaign highlights how the first few years represent a golden opportunity for us to give our children the best possible start in life.

"By the age of three, a child's brain is three-quarters of its adult size, with 50 per cent of language skills already developed, making the need to get the early years right beyond debate."