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Category: Social and Emotional Development
Infant Mental Health Awareness Week 2023: Understanding Infant Mental Health
13 June 2023
In this short animation for Infant Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, PEDAL’s Senior Policy Fellow Sally Hogg explains what we mean by ‘mental health’ in infancy and early childhood. You can also find more information and useful resources for supporting children’s mental health in the early years by clicking here.
Understanding and supporting mental health in infancy and early childhood: A PEDAL and UNICEF UK Toolkit
14 April 2023
There is widespread concern about babies’, children’s and young people’s mental health in the UK, particularly after the pandemic. Surveys of children, young people, parents, grandparents and teachers all reveal worries about mental health. Significant evidence shows us that the foundations for lifelong mental health are laid during pregnancy and the earliest years of life. Thankfully, this is more widely […]
Play, physical activity, and physical health
5 April 2023
How can active play help improve children's access to physical activity and their physical health?
Early Years Library
9 January 2023
Learn more about these free resources designed to help early childhood education practitioners support young children’s development of essential skills.
The Links Between Play and Children’s Mental Health
8 September 2022
In this presentation, Professor Helen Dodd from the University of Exeter explains how play has changed over time, and explores how adventurous play might be considered a protective factors when it comes to children’s mental health. This talk formed part of the PEDAL Play Conference 2022, an event which brought together play researchers interested in […]
Using LEGO Bricks to Support Social and Emotional Wellbeing in Neurodivergent Children
8 September 2022
Play Included is a social enterprise on a mission to create effective play-based development programmes for children – empowering professionals, enabling parents and families and building community. In this presentation, Dr Gina Gomez de la Cuesta introduces the Brick-by-Brick® programme, which provides opportunities for neurodivergent children to develop their social and emotional skills through collaborative […]
‘Just fun’ – or fundamental? Finding fun in early adolescent self-concept
6 July 2022
Is fun an integral part of young peoples' selves, or is it a frivolous extra?
Children bouncing back: How families can use play to help children transition to post-lockdown life
6 July 2022
How can families use play to support their children as they transition to post-lockdown life?
B: Building Blocks: The power of the brick
6 July 2022
How can block play support children's development?