In this episode, Alistair Bryce-Clegg and Ben Kingston-Hughes discuss the transformative power of play for vulnerable children. They highlight how play genuinely changes lives, and is essential for children’s growth and development into resilient adults.   They focus on strategies for engaging vulnerable children in play, suggesting providing half-built play materials to spark creativity and help children feel more comfortable and supported. The role of adults is emphasised in giving children the freedom to explore, and how dedicating extra time to play can enhance the mental health of an entire family. This episode offers valuable insights and advice for practitioners on how to incorporate play, and creating an environment that benefits everyone involved.   📌 To shop for resources relevant to this podcast conversation, click here.       Listened and loved it? Sign-up here for exclusive follow-up content and be the first to hear about new episodes.   (The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)   Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

Ben Kingston-Hughes, an expert in the role of humor in children's play and learning, joins Alistair Bryce-Clegg to explore the profound impact of humor on child development. They discuss how humor fosters creativity and social connections among young children, emphasizing its vital role in enhancing learning. Personal anecdotes highlight the quirky and silly moments of parenting, while insights reveal how laughter aids healing and boosts emotional well-being. The duo also touches on the unconventional significance of dark humor in educational settings.

Ben Kingston-Hughes, an expert in children's physical development, joins Alistair Bryce-Clegg to explore the crucial role of physical play. They discuss how outdoor play fosters independence and resilience while enhancing mental health. Key skills like spatial awareness and social interactions emerge through play, making learning enjoyable and effective. The conversation encourages practitioners to embrace a progressive approach to education, focusing on children's comfort and emotional connection to foster curiosity.

Ben Kingston-Hughes, an international keynote speaker and multi award-winning trainer, joins Alistair Bryce-Clegg to explore the magic of imaginative play. They delve into how this form of play builds confidence and creativity in children. The importance of allowing kids to experiment with unconventional items is emphasized, as is the critical role adults play in facilitating, rather than directing, play. Practical tips for educators are shared to nurture children's imagination, ensuring they become innovative thinkers.

Alistair Bryce-Clegg, Julie Pearson & Richard Knight return for a final episode to summarise their discussion so far on transitions. This time they bring it all together with the topic of emotional intelligence.   They emphasise the idea that parents also struggle with transitions, for example moving to a new school after building trust at another. Strategies for supporting parents through these transitions are discussed, such as a ‘drip feed’ approach, slowly building a relationship with parents, and ensuring everyone is on the same page about what ‘transitions’ are.   The importance of getting communication right is also considered, especially when it comes to more challenging conversations with parents, and opening up a non-judgemental dialogue around emotional intelligence and empathy for children.   📌 To shop for resources relevant to this podcast conversation, click here.     Listened and loved it? Sign-up here for exclusive follow-up content and be the first to hear about new episodes.   (The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)   Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

In this episode of the TTS Talking Early Years podcast, Alistair Bryce-Clegg continues the conversation around transitions with Richard Knight and Julie Pearson.   They delve into how to approach difficult transitions and bigger life events with children. Whether it’s answering questions about death, or simply acknowledging the fact that it’s okay to feel sad. They also explore the importance of letting educators and key people know when a big transition has happened, accounting for a child’s change in behaviour and mood.   📌 To shop for resources relevant to this podcast conversation, click here.     Listened and loved it? Sign-up here for exclusive follow-up content and be the first to hear about new episodes.   (The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)   Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

Richard Knight, a representative from the Early Years Alliance, and Julie Pearson, an advocate for helping children through significant changes, dive into the challenges children face during transitions. They discuss making these changes exciting by using positive language and familiar transitional objects, like cuddly toys. The duo emphasizes the importance of building trustful relationships between parents and educators. They also explore how to navigate emotional responses, using visuals and digital tools to ease anxiety for families and children.

Julie Pearson and Richard Knight share insights on supporting children through everyday changes, emphasizing the importance of effective transitions in and out of play and how these impact larger transitions later in life. They discuss managing changes, the necessity of all adults being aligned, and the significance of emotional support during daily transitions.

Alistair Bryce-Clegg and Dr Steph Ainsworth return for a final episode covering their discussion so far on teacher resilience and work/life balance.   Alistair and Steph look at the broader policy context of what we can do to help teacher resilience. They discuss the idea of a more flexible curriculum, where teachers have more autonomy within their role. Adopting a child-centered approach is also broached.  They wrap up the topic by emphasising the importance of a culture of resilience, and reinforcing how to build resilience on an individual level through self-compassion and having access to the right resources.   📌 To shop for resources relevant to this podcast conversation, click here.     Listened and loved it? Sign-up here for exclusive follow-up content and be the first to hear about new episodes.   (The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)   Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

In this episode of the TTS Talking Early Years podcast, Alistair Bryce-Clegg continues the conversation around teacher resilience in the Early Years with Dr Steph Ainsworth, an education researcher and teacher educator.  Steph and Alistair delve into ways resilience can be boosted by working on solutions collaboratively as a team. Whether it’s leadership giving recognition to staff, conducting regular staff check-in meetings, or honing emotional intelligence within a team – working together is a vital part of building resilience.   📌 To shop for resources relevant to this podcast conversation, click here.     Listened and loved it? Sign-up here for exclusive follow-up content and be the first to hear about new episodes.   (The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)   Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.