Early Excellence Podcast

The Unplugged Early Years Movement

Jul 25, 2025
Mienna Jones, a veteran nursery owner and consultant with 34 years in early years education, joins Karen Snook, the founder of St. Albans Mums, to delve into the Unplugged Early Years movement. They discuss the impact of technology on child development, advocating for nurturing, hands-on learning experiences. The conversation explores how mobile devices hinder social interactions and emphasize the importance of emotional security in learning environments. Their insights aim to inspire a shift towards meaningful connections over screens in early childhood education.
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ANECDOTE

Calm, Happy Nursery Environment

  • Karen observes her nursery setting as calm with happy children and staff who sing all day.
  • She notes this environment as significantly different and positive compared to others she visited.
ADVICE

Limit Screens to Improve Interaction

  • Remove iPads from nursery floors to improve adult-child interaction.
  • Invest practitioner time directly with children rather than on non-quality observations.
INSIGHT

Tech Reduces Present Moment Awareness

  • Andy Burt notes that technology presence at concerts changes crowd behavior, leading to less physical engagement.
  • This reflects a broader societal impact of technology reducing present moment awareness.
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