Amanda Ralph is a qualified Early Years Teacher, with a background in Montessori pre-school education. She has lived and worked in Hong Kong, Japan, Denmark, Norway and the UK. She is passionate about helping parents understand how children develop and learn, and the importance of play. Amanda has worked in various pre-schools and nurseries both abroad and in the UK, and as an early education and childcare officer for a local authority in the UK. Amanda now lives in the UK and is married and has two grown up children and 2 grandchildren. She currently works as an early years technical writer for Zigzag publications and also gives talks and small training sessions for local playgroups and parent toddler geoups.