A CHILDREN’S TV legend has appeared in Bradford for an annual event to mark the district’s Baby Week.

Baroness Floella Benjamin, best known for being a presenter on BBC show Play School, was a guest speaker yesterday at a conference to mark Baby Week Bradford.

The event, held at the Life Centre, in Wapping Road, was called ‘Speech, Language and Communication in the Early Years’.

Back for its fifth year, Bradford Baby Week has the theme ‘Bradford Babies Talking’ and runs until November 20.

 

Baroness Benjamin, who was introduced to the House of Lords as a life peer in 2010, said: “I have dedicated my whole life to children. The early years are so important.

“I would say to mothers and fathers, prepare yourself mentally, physically and emotionally before your baby is born.

“It is important to talk to the baby and sing to the baby. Play them music, I used to watch Neighbours when I was pregnant with my son.

“I would also say while you’re pregnant it is good to belly dance.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be part of Baby Week Bradford for the first time this year. It’s so great to have a whole week dedicated to babies’ development and how we can all play a part in building more resilient and healthy humans.

“Throughout my life I’ve been committed to babies and children’s development and how those earliest years can influence them forever.

“As I often say, childhood lasts a lifetime.”

Many Bradford Baby Week events have been taking place across the district including outdoor storytelling, messy play, singing sessions, breastfeeding advice drop-ins, as well as story and rhyme time events.

 

It has also included the launch of the Holding Time exhibition at Kala Sangam Arts Centre, a photography exhibition of breastfeeding portraits.

Better Start Bradford co-ordinates the week on behalf of the district, focusing on pregnancy and the first three years of children’s lives.

Kerry Bennett, Integration and Change Manager at Better Start Bradford, said: “We’ve had a great range of events for both families and the early years workforce across the Bradford district to highlight the importance of babies’ language, speech and communication development.

“By interacting with them – even before birth – we can all build these early communication skills to help babies’ brains develop, help them feel safe and connected, and help them grow up happy and healthy. This supports their speech, language and communication throughout their lives.”

Have you got a story for us? Email newsdesk@telegraphandargus.co.uk or contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

Sign up to our newsletter to get updates sent straight to your inbox.

You can also call us on 01274 705292.