Play, Self-regulation, Executive Function and the Classroom Context
How and why do playful approaches to teaching support the development of self-regulation?
David Whitebread Memorial Lecture 2022: Theory and Research on Self-Regulated Learning Meet Real Life in Classrooms
PEDAL and the Whitebread family come together annually for the David Whitebread Memorial Lecture to celebrate the memory of Dr David Whitebread, PEDAL’s founder and a pioneer in early childhood development research. This is a recording of the inaugural David Whitebread Memorial Lecture, given by Professor Nancy Perry from the University of British Columbia in […]
Power of Play: Evidence on Playful Early Learning in Bangladesh and BRAC’s PlayBook Launch
Early childhood is a critical time in a child’s development and life. When play is integrated into how we care for and educate young children, it promotes their development and helps them grow into adaptable, resilient, socially and emotionally literate adults who can navigate the world and overcome the adversities of poverty, crisis and conflict […]
Agency in Play: Making Space for Children’s Agency With Learning Through Play
This short animation summarises a new theoretical paper written by the Play in Schools & Learning team that explains the role of play in supporting children’s agency in their learning. How can you make space for children’s agency in their learning? By including play! Play develops children’s motivation and self-regulation, both of which support children’s […]
Evidence-based interventions in the first 1001 days: A PEDAL panel discussion
PEDAL and the First 1001 Days Movement hosted a fascinating lunchtime panel considering how to ensure our youngest children and their families receive the most appropriate, timely and effective intervention to support their health and development. Professor Mike Robling (Director of Population Health Trials, University of Cardiff) and Professor Paul Ramchandani (LEGO Professor of Play, […]
School Break Times & Young People’s Social Lives in England
In this lunchtime webinar, PEDAL was joined by Dr Ed Baines from the UCL’s Institute of Education. School breaktimes are important social play settings for children and young people. In the past decade there have been changes to schools and education in England, reports of increases in structured school clubs, and concerns about school food, […]
Play in Green Spaces: A PEDAL panel discussion
Adults instinctively feel that playing outside is good for children, but what is actually known about the benefits of play in green spaces? As cities around the world continue to expand, more children are growing up without access to the countryside, or even to parks and gardens. Playtime takes place indoors or in the built […]
Parenting and Early Childhood in the Pandemic
TEDxCambridgeUniversity’s event ‘The New Normal’ featured a talk from PEDAL PhD candidate Sabilah Eboo Alwani. This is a recording of Sabilah’s talk on Parenting and Early Childhood in the Pandemic. Sabilah’s research examines the relationship between parenting and early childhood development, including the themes of resilience and play. She is a longstanding practitioner in the fields […]
PEDAL September Speaker Series: Play in the Pandemic
This webinar was part of our September Speaker Series, recorded in September 2020. These lunchtime sessions aimed to bring together academics, practitioners & policymakers to discuss some of play research’s key issues virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Sara Baker was joined in this webinar by Helen Dodd, Professor of Child Psychology at the University […]
PEDAL September Speaker Series: The Way We Play – Potential in Play
This webinar was part of our September Speaker Series, recorded in September 2020. These lunchtime sessions aimed to bring together academics, practitioners & policymakers to discuss some of play research’s key issues virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this session, speakers focused on the potential of play in interventions, and also during the pandemic, for […]
PEDAL September Speaker Series: The Way We Play – Play in Challenging Settings
This webinar was part of our September Speaker Series, recorded in September 2020. These lunchtime sessions aimed to bring together academics, practitioners & policymakers to discuss some of play research’s key issues virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. This webinar focused on how play can manifest in challenging settings, and was chaired by Dr Jenny Gibson. […]
PEDAL Seminar: Toddlers Think for Themselves!
Social learning has been a large focus of early developmental psychology for the past three decades. While it reveals how culture is transmitted to young children, questions about how young children come up with their own ideas and learn for themselves have been largely ignored. This talk, with Dr Elena Hoicka from the University of […]
Reconstructing readiness: Young children’s priorities for their early school adjustment
This video provides an overview of the Children’s Thoughts about School Study (CTSS). CTSS was integrated into the evaluation of a community-led initiative called Preparing for Life (PFL) run by the UCD Geary Institute. The PFL aimed to improve levels of school readiness for children living in several disadvantaged areas of Dublin, Ireland. In the […]
Play at the Extremes: A panel discussion for parents, teachers and carers
Join the conversation about the changing nature of childhood – are we really heading from ‘free range’ to ‘hot house’? We’ll hear if children are kept too safe, if parents and schools are too risk averse, and whether adventurous and independent play opportunities provide unique developmental, social and emotional benefits. Chaired by Dr Jenny Gibson, […]
PEDAL Seminar: Not Too Early, But Just Right! – Unleashing the Power of Science in Early Childhood
Professor Daryl Greenfield is a Professor of Psychology and Pediatrics at the University of Miami. His work is positioned at the interface of research, policy and practice at the international, national and local level. His research examines school readiness with at-risk and dual language learners, with a specific focus on early science education. Science has […]
