This week The Lego Foundation posted a tweet reminding us of the importance of playing with our children; suggesting that by doing so the bond between parent and child will become stronger. The concept of a bond existing between a child and their parent or carer, known as an “attachment” is widely regarded as being developed … More Being fully present
Social cognition and emotional intelligence are both phrases we hear in connection with the development of the “theory of mind”, specifically in relation to the early years of children, generally being birth to five years old. In the early twentieth century, theorists began to evolve their thinking concerning the competency of babies and young children, … More “The best way to predict the future is to invent it”
Inspired by a conversation with a friend and former colleague about recent observations I have made of my own children, I have taken time to reflect upon how we each determine beauty in something we see or we hear and how we give words, actions and gestures our own meanings. Children begin life without bias, … More What defines beauty
When I was growing up, my parents certainly instilled in me the notion that I could grow up to be anything I wanted to be. Over the years, my aspirations fluctuated from wishing to train as a hairdresser to becoming a fashion designer, being married at 26 with a private jet. I briefly toyed with … More Mummy, can girls be firemen?
When do we start classifying and categorising without thinking creatively? From the moment we are born, we explore the world around us, as curious beings, researching and discovering. We unveil the nature and properties of everything we encounter: observing, touching or smelling. We make connections using these senses and piece together knowledge and experience to … More When do we stop thinking creatively?
Peter Bazalgette in “The Empathy Instinct” argues that, as part of an Empathy Charter, every parent needs to understand the inestimable value of intimate encounters…they should appreciate the corrosion of healthy, emotional development that comes with the always-on distraction of the mobile device…with school behaviour codes [being] built on the principles of the empathy instinct. … More Empathy as the new literacy
Since setting up this website, I have been asked by many people who are unfamiliar with the long term research project in Reggio Emilia, what benefit to children the principles emanating from this approach might convey. It can be difficult to describe the notion of a child being a co-constructor of their own learning, or … More Freedom to imagine
