The Big Toddle for Barnardos is a fun sponsored walk for toddlers.
The Big Toddle for Barnardos is a fun sponsored walk for toddlers where children themselves have the opportunity to help create positive change for disadvantaged children in Ireland. Whether you're a crèche, a parent or a childminder, you can organise your own Big Toddle any time in May or June.
Barnardos Big Toddle is a fun half-mile sponsored walk for children under five. Since it began nearly half a million toddlers have toddled 250,000 miles to raise vital funds for vulnerable children their own age.
Barnardos currently works with over 17,600 children and families in 41 centres across Ireland and the funds raised will support Barnardos Early Years services - your support ensures that some of the youngest and most vulnerable children Barnardos works with are given the best possible start in life.
The funds raised through The Big Toddle goes directly towards their ‘Early Years’ Work. This incredible support ensures that some of the youngest and most vulnerable children they work with are best prepared for the transition to ‘big school’ and get the best possible start in life.
These services aim to break negative behaviours and overcome the challenges that a child may face in an often chaotic environment. Programmes are developed to build the child’s resilience – their ability to cope and to achieve their developmental, social and educational milestones, in spite of their circumstances.
Many of the children Barnardos works with come from particularly vulnerable backgrounds and need specialist care to enable them to get ready for milestones such as the big step towards primary school.
The children who are referred to Early Years Services usually have some or many of the following issues:
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They cannot understand or express emotions
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They cannot manage conflict or demonstrate empathy for others
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They cannot play in a co-operative manner or share
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They do not know how to make positive choices
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They cannot understand speech/language
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They have poor gross and fine motor skills – standing, walking, holding a pencil, picking up items
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They have a poor diet and limited access to good nutrition
Some of the amazing programmes Barnardos offer:
Early Years Programme
A daily programme for children aged 2-3 years. Focusing on supporting children to meet their developmental milestones, develop language, social skills, sharing, taking turns and resolving conflicts.
Tús Maith Pre-School Programme
A daily programme for children aged 3-5 years. Focusing on social, emotional, language, phonological and literacy skills in preparation for transition to primary school.
Parents Group
Peer support group to increase parental understanding of their children’s needs, child development and behaviour.
Individual Parent & Child Work
Tailored therapeutic work in response to assessed needs with either the child or the parent.
Barnardos Director of Fundraising, Mary Gamble said: “Toddle time is always a highlight for us here in Barnardos and with this year’s theme set as ‘Safari’ we think it might just be the wildest one yet! It’s so heart-warming to see children across Ireland taking their first steps towards helping those in need.
"The support of Danone, along with each and every little fundraiser who takes part across Ireland, is instrumental in ensuring we can continue this work, providing children with the bright futures they deserve.”
To register for you Big Toddle Pack and to get more information check out www.barnardos.ie/bigtoddle.
