Category: Primary (5-11)
Project Report: AI in the Early Years
25 March 2026
The rapid rise of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) means we are now seeing GenAI designed and marketed for direct use by young children through toys. This report details research findings from our AI in the Early Years project, which aimed to provide a scientific basis for identifying the impacts, risks, and opportunities of GenAI toys […]
Explorando el bienestar de los niños y las niñas autistas en Medellín
25 March 2026
Si tienes diagnóstico de autismo o eres familiar de alguien con este diagnóstico en Medellín, ¡esta invitación es para ti! En Colombia, aún sabemos poco sobre cómo se vive el autismo en el día a día. Muchas de las investigaciones provienen de otros países y no reflejan la realidad colombiana. Por eso, hoy queremos escuchar […]
Communication with friends and non-friend peers: an examination of dyadic connectedness across two play contexts
26 February 2026
This study examines the extent to which children’s connectedness is influenced by interaction context and friendship status. Research findings show that although friends engaged in similar rates of connected talk across two contexts, non-friends engaged in more connected talk during goal-directed drawing when compared to free-play. It is therefore important to focus on both context […]
Long-term follow-up of a randomised controlled trial of a brief home-based parenting intervention to reduce behavioural problems in young children
8 October 2025
The long-term findings of our Healthy Start, Happy Start study have been published in a paper for the Journal Of Child Psychology And Psychiatry.
A scoping review of teacher training programs to promote learning through play in pre- and primary schools
1 October 2025
This paper was published by the Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education in September 2025.
Play, access and opportunity: Game-changing action for children
17 July 2025
In this presentation from the PEDAL Conference 2025, Dr Julian Grenier, Senior Content and Engagement Manager for Early Years at the Education Endowment Foundation, draw on his experience of working in early education and care for more than three decades.
Leveraging alternative systems to support children’s development amid crisis
17 July 2025
Dr Nikhit D’Sa, a developmental psychologist and applied education researcher, share lessons from four years of research with communities in Haiti at the PEDAL Conference 2025.
AI, toys and the future
17 July 2025
These recordings formed the “AI, toys and the future” session, presented by Prof Rosie Flewitt and PEDAL’s Dr Emily Goodacre.
Children’s risky play: Thrilling experiences and developmental benefits
17 July 2025
Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter, Professor at the Department of Physical Education and Health at Queen Maud University College of Early Childhood Education, Norway, attended the PEDAL Conference 2025 to give the David Whitebread Memorial Lecture.
Play: The future of learning and thriving
17 July 2025
Bo Stjerne Thomsen, Head of Educational Impact at LEGO Education, attended the PEDAL Conference 2025 to discuss how play can be more deeply integrated into education, work, and society.