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Resource Library

Welcome to our library of play-filled resources! This resource library contains a range of short articles, blog pieces and videos to summarise findings from our research, alongside links to our latest academic publications.

On this page you can browse resources created by the PEDAL team. You can also use one or more of the filters below to search for the resources most relevant to your interests.

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ITAKOM Conference 2023: Moving towards a strengths-based approach to autism diagnostic assessment

Neurodiversity-informed approaches enable us to move away from simply understanding autism in terms of difficulties. In this video, PEDAL PhD student Emma Pritchard-Rowe presents a summary of her research on holistic, strengths-based approaches to diagnostic assessment which centre autistic voices & have a positive impact on autistic people’s wellbeing and self-esteem. This poster was originally […]

Early Years Library

Learn more about these free resources designed to help early childhood education practitioners support young children’s development of essential skills.

An Introduction to the TRAIL (Teachers Reflecting on Agency in Learning) Programme

Teachers Reflecting on Agency in Learning (TRAIL) is a professional development programme designed to support early years and primary educators in implementing rigorous, child-centred practices that promote agency in children. Many educators are unsure how to balance their role as a guide in children’s learning with children’s exploration and curiosity. In TRAIL, we support educators […]

Ruptured school trajectories: understanding the impact of COVID-19 on school dropout, socio-emotional and academic learning using a longitudinal design

Stephen Bayley, Prof Paul Ramchandani, Research for Equitable Access and Learning (REAL) Centre, Addis Ababa University, RISE Ethiopia

Narrative Matters: ‘Encanto’ and intergenerational trauma

Read a summary of Sydney Conroy's publication about how themes in Encanto might support children's mental health.

The Links Between Play and Children’s Mental Health

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

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 […]

A young girl named Olivia participating in a playful Zoom interview as part of Kelsey's research. She is using a fox shaped cushion as a pretend face mask.

Children’s Perspectives and Experiences of Play in Hospital

In this talk, PEDAL PhD student Kelsey Graber presents their doctoral research – which seeks to investigate children’s own perspectives and experiences of play in hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. This presentation was recorded on 8th September 2022 as part of the PEDAL Play Conference, an event which brought together play researchers interested in play […]

Exploring the Perceptions of Teachers and Parents on the Use of Play-Based Pedagogy in Kenya

In this talk, PEDAL PhD student Domnick Okullo presents their doctoral research project – which explores teachers’ and parents’ perceptions of the use of play-based learning in preschools in Kenya. This presentation was recorded on the 8th September 2022 as part of the PEDAL Play Conference, an event which brought together play researchers interested in […]

Play as Resilience, Play as Mastery: Supporting Practitioners and Families Across the UK

Play is a child’s normal. Play is both a powerful means of communication, and how we understand the world that we live in. Starlight Children’s Foundation is committed to protecting the right of all children to have opportunities to play, particularly children who are seriously ill and/or engaged with the UK healthcare system on a […]

Pedagogy of Play: What Playful Learning Involves (And Why It Is Important)

Around the world, research trends are showing that there is more play and playfulness in schools. From age four to fourteen (and beyond), children are leading their own learning, exploring the unknown, and finding joy in facing challenges at school. However, most students beyond early childhood do not currently have the opportunity to learn playfully […]

Moving toward a strengths-based understanding of autistic people’s play

How do autistic adults experience and view their play?

Book to Basics: Having fun with books and play

How can we use books in our play?

Four playful ways to help with anxiety

How can we use play to help our bodies recognise we are safe and reduce our anxiety level?