Meet Little Launchpad: helping children build strong foundations for the future

The early years are a time of incredible development, but for parents and carers, knowing how best to support a child's development can sometimes feel overwhelming. As one of The Wee Hive's founding partners, we wanted to shine a spotlight on Little Launchpad, a local business helping parents and caregivers better understand child development from birth to five.

Founded by Ann Burnett, who has a degree in Early Childhood Care and Education, a Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Education and around 20 years' experience working in education, Little Launchpad was created to bridge the gap between the developmental knowledge held within professional settings and the practical knowledge parents can use at home.

We caught up with Ann to find out more about her journey, what inspired Little Launchpad and her advice for parents navigating the early years.

What inspired you to start Little Launchpad?

“The idea for Little Launchpad began around 12 years ago, when I was pregnant with my first child and attended a teacher training session on early brain development. I remember thinking, “This is some of the most important information I've ever heard – but so much of this development happens before children even arrive in the classroom.”

“As a teacher, I had very little influence at that stage. But as a soon-to-be mum, I absorbed every bit of it. Learning how rapidly the brain develops during the early years, and how experiences such as movement, play, language and interaction help shape that development, completely changed how I approached parenting. 

“Years later, during the pandemic, I converted our garden shed into a little home nursery for my children, who were three and five. We played, moved, explored and read together, and I saw first-hand how much development can happen through very ordinary experiences.

“When I later returned to teaching and worked across different Primary 1 classrooms, I was struck by how varied children's starting points could be. It brought me back to a question I'd first asked years earlier: why isn't more of this knowledge shared with parents?

“There is so much valuable knowledge about early childhood development within professional settings, but parents and caregivers - the people providing so many of children's earliest experiences - don't always have access to it, so Little Launchpad was created to help bridge that gap.”

For parents discovering Little Launchpad for the first time, can you tell us about what you offer and who your webinars are designed for?

“Little Launchpad helps parents and caregivers understand child development from birth to five. The webinars take the research and developmental theory behind the early years and translate it into clear, practical guidance that you can use in everyday family life.

“Rather than focusing only on the skills we can see, we explore the developmental foundations underneath them including early brain development, movement and sensory development, play, language, attention, emotional regulation, independence and the physical foundations for later learning.

“The webinars follow three developmental stages: infants and toddlers (0-2 years), preparing for pre-school (2-4 years) and preparing for school (4-5 years).

“The aim isn't to give parents another list of things they “should” be doing. It's to help them understand why different experiences matter, so they can feel more confident in the choices they make for their child.

“Sessions are live, relaxed and kept deliberately small. There's plenty of opportunity to ask questions, but no pressure to speak and a cup of tea is highly recommended! Everyone receives the slides afterwards too, so parents can simply listen and refer back to the information whenever they need it.”

We often hear about the importance of the first five years. Why are these years so significant for children's development?

“The first five years are an extraordinary period of development. During early childhood, the brain develops at an extraordinary rate, forming more than a million neural connections every second. Children's experiences, relationships and interactions help shape and strengthen these developing connections.

“There are also sensitive periods during development - times when the brain is particularly receptive to certain types of experience. Areas such as language, movement, sensory processing and social and emotional development are all being shaped during these early years.

“This is also a period of particularly high brain plasticity, meaning the developing brain has a remarkable ability to adapt and change in response to experience. That doesn't mean everything has to be achieved before a child turns five, or that parents need to fill every moment with activities. The brain continues to develop and learn throughout life.

“But it does help us understand why children's everyday experiences during these years are so valuable and why the adults caring for them have such an important role.”

Why do you think it's so important for parents to understand the developmental foundations behind the skills their children are learning?

“Understanding the why can completely change how we see an everyday activity. If someone tells you that messy play is good for your child, that's useful. But when you understand that scooping, pouring, squeezing and exploring different textures can support sensory development, coordination, hand control, language and problem-solving, you begin to see the experience differently.

“The same applies across development. Everyday movement, sensory experiences, play, conversation and opportunities for independence are helping children build foundations they'll draw upon later.

“And importantly, this isn't about giving parents more to do. Often these experiences are already happening. Little Launchpad helps parents understand what those everyday experiences are supporting developmentally – and why they matter.

“That's what I want parents to take away from the webinars: not more pressure, but more understanding - and greater confidence in the choices they're already making.”

What does 'school readiness' really mean to you?

“For me, school readiness begins long before a child sets foot in a classroom and it's about much more than recognising letters, writing a name or counting.

We need to think about the developmental foundations underneath the skills children will use in the classroom. Sitting comfortably and listening, for example, draws on physical foundations developed through years of movement and active play. And before children are ready to write, they need plenty of opportunities to build hand strength, coordination and control through everyday play.

But readiness isn't purely physical. Children are also developing attention, language, emotional regulation, independence and the social skills that help them manage everyday classroom life.

School readiness isn't a checklist. It's about giving children rich, developmentally appropriate experiences that build the foundations upon which classroom learning can grow.”

Many parents worry about whether their child is 'on track'. What would you say to reassure them?

“One of the messages I return to throughout Little Launchpad is ‘guidelines, not deadlines’. Instead of always asking, “Can my child do this yet?”, I encourage parents to consider: “Has my child had opportunities to experience and practise the things that support this stage of development?” - that's a very different way of looking at development.

“Children don't have to master an activity for the experience to be valuable. Pouring water, building with blocks, threading, digging, or helping prepare food all give the brain and body opportunities to practise different skills.

“So my focus is much less on ticking boxes and much more on opportunity and experience. Give children opportunities to move, play, talk, explore, problem-solve and practise independence - then allow development to unfold at their pace.

“Developmental milestones are important, and concerns should always be discussed with an appropriate professional. But everyday development shouldn't feel like a race. The goal isn't to tick every box. It's to provide the experiences from which development can grow.”

Are there any common misconceptions about children's learning or development that you'd love to help parents understand?

“One of the biggest is that preparing young children for later learning means introducing formal academics earlier. Some of the most valuable learning doesn't look like “learning” at all.

“Building a den involves planning and problem-solving. Riding a scooter challenges balance and coordination.  Playing with playdough develops hand strength and dexterity. 

“There is an enormous amount of development happening through ordinary play. Once we recognise what these experiences are supporting, we stop seeing them as "just play".You don't need to turn your home into a classroom. Children learn through movement, exploration, interaction and play.”

What's one simple activity or habit parents can introduce at home that can have a really positive impact on their child's development?

“If I had to choose one, I'd say share books together regularly - but make reading interactive. Let your child finish a familiar repeated phrase. Join in with rhymes, talk about the pictures, wonder what might happen next, discuss how characters are feeling, or let your child retell a familiar story in their own words.

“These simple interactions support language, vocabulary, attention, comprehension, memory, imagination and early literacy, while also providing valuable one-to-one connection. Most importantly, keep it enjoyable. Before we're trying to create children who can read, we should be helping create children who want to read.”

What do you think children need more of today to help them thrive?

“I think children need more time. Time to play, move, explore, get messy, make mistakes, solve problems and sometimes simply be bored enough to invent something to do. But they also need time to do things for themselves. Putting on shoes, fastening a jacket, or helping with simple jobs around the home all take much longer when a child is learning.

“As adults, it's often easier to think, “I'll just do it.” And it is quicker. But if we always step in, we can unintentionally remove the very opportunities children need to become independent. Independence develops through doing.

“Sometimes that means allowing an extra ten minutes before leaving the house so a child can attempt their own coat and shoes. It means allowing them to struggle a little, make mistakes and try again without feeling rushed.

“Those ordinary tasks are developing coordination, problem-solving, persistence, confidence and that wonderful sense of, “I can do this myself.” Sometimes one of the most valuable things we can give children isn't another activity or resource. It's simply enough time to have a go for themselves.”

What's been one of your proudest moments since starting Little Launchpad?

“One of my proudest moments has simply been turning Little Launchpad from an idea into a reality. For years, the idea stayed in the background while I taught and raised my own children. Turning it into a programme that families can now access has been incredibly rewarding. But I'm most proud of what Little Launchpad represents: helping bridge the gap between the developmental knowledge held within professional settings and the practical knowledge parents and caregivers can use at home.

What began as a question I asked myself years ago – "Why isn't more of this knowledge shared with parents?" - has now become something that can genuinely support families.

Seeing that happen has been incredibly special.”