Prof Sam Wass is a child psychologist and neuroscientist who is an expert in child concentration and child stress. He leads a research unit, the BabyDevLab, which is funded by the European Research Council, Research Councils UK and others, based at the University of East London. East London is one of most demographically and socioeconomically mixed areas of the world, and a major focus of his research is understanding diversity and adversity and their effects on early development.
In addition, Sam is active in the public communication of science. He appears as a press spokesperson for public organisations including the Department of Education and Public Health England, and for commercial organisations including Lego, Disney+ and many others. Sam also runs training for practitioners working in Early Years.
Based on the Charles Dickens’ story ‘A Christmas Carol’, Sam takes us on a fascinating journey through childhood past, present and future in this extended, hour-long Christmas Special.
Discover how attitudes to children have changed over time and what we should be grateful for today. Learn about harsh disciplining practices of the past compared to more progressive methods now. Hear the latest evidence on how opioid addiction sadly impacts parenting capacity and children’s development. Finally, glimpse into the future of Early Years childcare – what role might technology play while the need for warm human contact will surely remain constant?
Key learning points:
- Huge improvements in life expectancy, harsh discipline practices and education over the past century
- Importance of quality adult-child relationships and interactions for healthy emotional development
- Concerning impacts of the opioid crisis in shaping some children’s early experiences
- Exciting potential for technology to enhance learning whilst retaining need for nurture
Prof Wass shares an exciting new venture for 2024 – a neuroscience-inspired research nursery/consultancy and training business he is starting with Gemma Goldenberg.
During this session, you will be challenged to reflect on how far we have come in terms of valuing childhood, yet how far we still need to go for many families. Essential, entertaining and educational viewing for anyone working with or caring for young children today.
Links:
Opiod disorder at delivery – CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6731a1.htm?s_cid=mm6731a1_w#F1_down
Baby swaddling in Tajikstan https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13919
Education spending in real terms: https://ifs.org.uk/education-spending-background
Child mortality: https://ourworldindata.org/child-mortality-in-the-past
Parent’s time with children: https://www.timeuse.org/
Harlow’s monkey experiments: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Harlow
Infant and toddler screen use:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37096246/
Pascal and Bertram HAWWC boys research:
https://bristolearlyyearsresearch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/HAWWC-Boys-Project-Report.pdf
You can find Prof Sam Wass TEDx talk here:
Links to previous Prof Sam Wass sesssions: https://www.earlyyearssummit.com/online-store/
https://www.earlyyears.tv/episode/prof-sam-wass-on-the-neuroscience-of-babies/
Find out more about the neuroscience-inspired research nursery/consultancy and training business here:
And Gemma Goldenberg here: https://www.instagram.com/phd_and_three/
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Episode Includes
- Episode Certificate
