Ben Kingston-Hughes will be presenting a keynote session at The Voice of Early Childhood Conference on 16th March 2024. Be sure not to miss out!  For 10% off our conference tickets visit: www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-conference-2024/ Ben Kingston-Hughes talks about giving children the chance to be children through experiencing more moments of joy in their lives. Ben gives us insight into the work he does with vulnerable children and the knowledge he has from neuroscience as he explains the power of play, humour, laughter and imagination. Take a look below at all of the thought-provoking points addressed in this episode... Episode breakdown:  00:41 - Why children need joy 01:40 - The English curriculum - EYFS - doesn't mention the word 'joy' 03:12 - A real example of joy changing lives 05:30 - The catastrophic effects on children who don't experience joy 06:20 - Humour and laughter helps to embed learning 09:20 - Immersive narratives: What does this mean? 12:50 - Supporting children's confidence through imagination 14:38 - What's the difference between creativity and imagination 21:24 - The pleasure of writing books 22:30 - The healing power of imagination 25:44 - Why adult's should initiate play, particularly for vulnerable children 27:54 - Creating an environment which makes children feel secure and comfortable 30:52 - Have you forgotten to tell your face to smile? - Consciously checking your body language 32:41 - A funny and embarrassing story from Ben to make us all laugh!  Find out more on The Voice of Early Childhood website: www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com