New 'Click' antenatal classes prepare children for school

This research led by Dr Kondel-Laws, Principal Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire revealed that Click classes developed a secure type of attachment between parents and their children. It led to the children being more ready for school life, often settling in quicker and being able to adjust to holding and working with stationary such as pencils.

Dr Kondel-Laws commented: "These classes have been designed to provide prospective parents with practical knowledge and a step-by-step guide on how to build relationship skills with their baby in the first two years of life, the information the parents receive is influenced by research into brain function, but fundamentally promotes strong parent-infant bonds. "

The research revealed that 'Click' classes delivered before the baby was born, not only improved the parents ability to think about and manage what their baby is communicating to them, but they also reported enjoying their babies more. When these children were again seen around 3 years of age, one key area that differentiated the two groups in terms of emotional development was that 'Click' parents reported their child to be 'less clingy' than those who had received routine antenatal care.

Dr Kondel-Laws added: "For children to become independent learners in the world, they must first achieve relationships that foster secure attachment as a base to explore from. In the school environment, having skills in understanding the communications around them as well as a having range of emotional experiences to draw upon and the physical ability to act on instructions/intentions; all allows the child to start the learning journey from a place of confidence, curiosity and interest as opposed to feeling fearful and unsure."

Metaphorically speaking, this one-off 3 hour class acts like a vaccination against the possibility of future poor mental health and not achieving full potential.