The first 1000 days lasts a lifetime!
What if understanding just a little bit more changed everything?
Babies need to learn everything!
Learning starts with the simple and builds to the complex. Each tiny skill forms the foundation for the next tiny skill. The stronger these early foundations grow, the easier everything becomes going forward.
Right in front of us, babies are changing, growing, learning and connecting every single day.
Most of us only notice the big moments. The first time they smile, their first words or their first steps.
But long before any of those happen, thousands of tiny moments have happened, each one a tiny step in building the foundations that make these milestones possible.
And once you start noticing the tiny moments, you start to see a child’s development differently.
It also becomes really hard to unsee them!
Most of us have no idea!
When my first baby was born, I desperately wanted to do the right things for her. But I had no idea what those things were. So mostly, I guessed and wondered if I was getting it right.
I'm not alone.
Only 17% of people recognise the unique importance of the period from pregnancy to age five for shaping a child's future.
Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, 2022
Because most adults were never shown what development actually looks like while it's happening - day by day, tiny moment by tiny moment, right there in front of them.
No wonder so many of us feel like we're getting it wrong.
Tiny Moments build big foundations.
Back in 2002, probably on a Tuesday morning between coffees, I sat on the floor with my two-month-old, shaking a rattle as she watched. Eventually, she reached forward and took the rattle. By accident, almost, she shook it.
Such a tiny moment. One, at the time, I didn’t even notice. But years later, looking back, I realised the bigness of that moment. The enormous foundations that tiny moment was building for her.
What seemed so tiny was actually building the foundations of her hand strength, her movement control, her coordination, core strength and even the pencil grip she would need to be able to write in school!
Understanding changes everything!
When adults understand the first 1000 days differently, they start seeing babies differently too!
Parents
Every day moments become purposeful. Bath time, nappy change, a walk to the shops suddenly look completely different when you understand what these tiny moments are building for your baby.
Educators
Every day moments become learning moments, building tiny step on tiny step to form the foundations that last a lifetime. Suddenly, those care routines that were something to get through before the play, become so much more important!
Baby Rooms
Every day becomes calmer, more connected, more intentional, more engaged. Everyone involved starts noticing more, celebrating tiny wins and embracing the bigness of the tiniest moment!
Once you see it, you literally can’t unsee it!
How Oliiki works
Oliiki helps parents, nurseries and professionals understand what babies need in the first 1000 days - and why those tiny everyday moment matter so much more than we realise.
Through hundreds of tiny playful adventures from conception to two, it shows educators how singing that song really does build brains, and it shows parents the massive learning that happens in that bathtime giggle or moment of peekaboo. It shows nursery leaders how to build a Baby Room they are truly proud of.
All through tiny playful moments.
"Every parent-to-be should have this app from the beginning of their pregnancy. It helps them feel fabulous as parents." - Darcey Croft, NHS Specialist Midwife and Maternal Mental Health Expert
When adults understand development differently, babies experience the world differently, too.
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Parents & Caregivers
See what's really happening in your baby's everyday moments - and how to support what comes next. Build your confidence in your newfound role as a parent. Stop guessing and know you’re getting it right -right from the start.
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Nannies & Childminders
You're with those babies every day. Oliiki helps you ensure every tiny playful adventure, every routine and each tiny moment counts - and gives you the understanding and confidence to know exactly why
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Organisations & Communities
If you work with babies and families - as a local authority, a Family Hub, a charity or a training network - Oliiki gives the people around those babies a completely different understanding of what the early years are really doing. And that changes everything they do.
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Nurseries & Professionals
As nursery owners, managers, baby room leaders and professionals, you want the best you can for your babies. Oliiki gives your whole team - and every family you work with - the understanding, language and tools to make tiny moments matter without adding to your workload.
Come and Join the Conversation!
The First 1000 Days Matter Natter is a free 25-minute conversation on the first Thursday of every month for nursery managers, owners, and early years professionals.
It's a moment in the month to stop, reflect, and think about your baby room practice. One question about the baby room, considered in the light of the research - and a proper natter with others thinking about the same things
“After doing the Oliiki activities the reaction of my little one was amazing. It gives me sunshine the whole day! Like, oh my God, she loved it and it’s something I can do over and over again. And I do, just to see how happy she is again!”
— Shubhi - Mum of 9-month-old baby Anaisha
Grow their developing minds in the first 1000 days with Oliiki
Download the Oliiki app and start your learning adventures together today!