When you work shifts, the day can sometimes feel upside down! You might find you come home ready for a good sleep when your little one is bright-eyed and ready to play. But there are lots of simple ways to spend quality time with your child without tiring yourself out.

Reading is a great way to be close to your child, and helps them get a head start with words, too. It also helps them to develop the connections in their brain, called synapses. Children have more synapses than they need, but if they’re used, they become a permanent part of the brain, making it more active. So books really can make your child smarter!

If you’re too tired for reading though, that’s OK - kisses and cuddles will work a treat. Love and affection helps your child to learn and grow, and a nice warm snuggle could be just the thing you need after a hard day, too.