Dr Kathy Weston

Our latest Researcher of the Month, Dr Victoria Goodyear, is challenging policymakers and educators to move past simple smartphone bans in schools. In this thought-provoking interview, she shares the latest findings from her NIHR-funded SMART Schools Study, which reveals that restrictive phone policies alone do not improve adolescent mental health or reduce overall phone use. Dr Goodyear calls for a rights-based, education-led approach, empowering young people with the skills, agency and support they need to navigate digital spaces safely and meaningfully.

We chat to one of the world's leading experts on men, masculinities, gender, and violence prevention. In this wide-ranging interview, Professor Michael Flood shares decades of insight into how we can foster healthier relationships, challenge gender stereotypes, and meaningfully prevent violence against women and girls. Drawing on extensive scholarship and frontline advocacy, Professor Flood offers evidence-based, practical advice for educators and parents, capturing key messages and actionable guidance for supporting boys and young men to grow into respectful, responsible and resilient adults.

Thinking about talking to children if you or a close loved one has been diagnosed with a serious illness may feel very difficult and it's completely understandable to want to protect them from pain. However, we know that being open and honest is important for their mental health. Professor Louise Dalton joins us to chat about her work on this important issue, one which touches many families. It also contains advice for schools supporting pupils.

Ellie Softley, Head of Education at Everyone's Invited, talks to us about a new programme of work with UK primary schools, which the organisation is running in conjunction with researchers from the University of Surrey. Tune in for numerous tips which will help parents or educators navigate potentially challenging conversations with children and teens about issues surround misogyny. Please note that this interview contains adult themes and isn't suitable for younger ears.

Ever wanted to know how important adventurous play is in young children's development? April's Researchers of the Month, Dr Kathryn Hesketh and Professor Helen Dodd, chat to us about new findings from a new national survey of play in preschool-aged children. Find out more about the benefits of adventurous play for both mental and physical health, learn some surprising gendered findings around how very young boys and girls play, and get some top tips about how we can help to facilitate adventurous play (even if the thought of letting our children climb higher in that tree gives us butterflies and a racing heart). Professor Dodd and Dr Hesketh also tell us about some exciting new projects that they are embarking on.

Spoiler alert: This interview discusses events and themes from the hit Netflix show, Adolescence. In this informal and informative chat, Dr Weston talks with Dr Elly Hanson, a clinical psychologist who focuses on tackling abuse and online harms. The conversation focuses on themes that have emerged from the show, immediate impressions from the programme, and provides some actions that parents and educators can take to help children and teens navigate the digital world and potentially harmful gender expectations.

We are often asked by both families and teachers about how best to support young people in the event that a loved one is seriously ill. Here, Professor Victoria Cooper shares her expertise in this area, offering tips for both parents and school staff. She also highlights the work of Hope Support Services, a UK charity which helps young people aged five to twenty five when a loved one has a serious illness.

In this interview, Suzanne Graham, Professor of Language and Education at the University of Reading, and Alison Porter, Associate Professor at the University of Southampton and chair of the Research in Primary Languages network, chat about the benefits of learning foreign languages at primary school. Tune in to find out about the links between language learning, empathy and creativity, and explore key strategies that educators can use to maintain children's motivation to learn. Professor Graham and Professor Porter talk about their many fascinating projects and highlight a fantastic resource pack and MOOC (massive open online course) which they are currently working on for primary school teachers.

Our researcher of the month, Professor Judy Hutchings OBE, joins Dr Cassie Rhodes to talk about the results of a large trial analysing the efficacy of the KiVa anti-bullying programme in the UK. The trial involved 11,000 children and 118 primary schools and it has shown that a significant improvement in social dynamics in primary schools and a 13% reduction in bullying. This is a fantastic episode for any primary school educators who want to learn more about this effective intervention and how to implement it in your schools.

In this interview, Dr Gemma Goldenberg talks about her fantastic new book Taking Action on Distraction: The definitive guide to improving attention and focus in the Early Years and Key Stage One, which is published today (27th February 2025). Do you want to learn more about creating an effective and calmer learning environment? Dr Goldenberg helps us to understand more about how attention works and chats about how teachers can work positively with all children in early years and primary settings to improve their focus and concentration. Discover accessible insights from research, practical classroom tips and reflective questions to discuss with children and colleagues. These tips are aimed mainly at educators, but can also be applied in family life.

More than 130,000 women and girls living in England and Wales have been subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM). Despite the practice being illegal in the UK, 60,000 girls every year are at risk. Globally, every nine seconds, a girl is at risk. This interview educates listeners about FGM and its significant and long-lasting impacts. Valerie talks with empathy and personal insight, offering practical advice for school staff seeking to protect and educate those in their care from this extremely harmful practice.

February's researcher of the month, Dr Kim Sylwander, joins Dr Cassie Rhodes to chat about her new paper, "There is No Right Age! The Search for Age-Appropriate Ways to Support Children's Digital Lives and Rights". Dr Sylwander talks about the importance of considering each individual child's capacity, maturity levels and understanding of digital issues before giving them access to certain digital devices or content, and offers parents some great advice about opening up discussions about children's rights online and critical thinking. A thought-provoking conversation which also explores the need for us all to consider the evidence before making decisions.

Professor Paul Ramchandani, Lego Professor of Play in Education, Development and Learning at the Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge, chats to us about different kinds of play, why play is so vital to children's development and wellbeing, and why all parents and carers should be considering their children's 'play diet'.

Relatively little work has focused on why we are motivated to learn words. In this interview, our researchers of the month talk to Dr Cassie Rhodes about the findings of their new study, which assessed whether children and teens experience a sense of intrinsic reward from word learning. They discuss how these findings might be useful in designing interventions focusing on vocabulary learning and reading, and talk about ongoing research into why some children, such as those with dyslexia or developmental language disorder, might struggle with word learning, and what role intrinsic reward plays.

Homework has a key role to play in strengthening memory, building attainment and helping students to develop transferable, life-long study skills. If done right, regular, good-quality homework has the potential to bridge achievement gaps and help all students become successful, confident learners. Experienced teacher, Dr Jovita Castelino, talks to us about her new book, The Homework Conundrum, providing advice and tips for teachers about how to set effective homework, build a strong homework culture, support students and use rewards and sanctions that work. For parents, she outlines how we can help children to understand the benefits of homework, support homework focus and encourage them to see how advantageous it can be to take control of their own learning.

Dr Isabel Morales-Muñoz chats about her fascinating work which investigates what role sleep problems in very early childhood have in the development of later mental health problems. Very few babies and toddlers sleep through the night all of the time, so Dr Morales-Muñoz chats about what might be normative developmentally, and what might indicate a problem that could benefit from intervention. Learn about the potential links between poor sleep and later ADHD diagnosis and find out about the links between sleep during pregnancy and children's later sleep patterns.

Our latest researcher of the month, Dr Natalie Brown, chats to Dr Cassie Rhodes about her latest study, which set out to understand young people's perceptions of menstrual education in schools and their experiences of menstruating whilst at school, including within physical education. Teachers will want to tune in to find out more about a fantastic set of free lesson resources that Dr Brown and colleagues have created. Listeners will come away armed with a wealth of insight into what effective menstrual education can look like and the positive impact it can have on pupils' learning and lives generally.

Dr Rachel Moseley chats about her innovative research into the interaction of autism and/or ADHD and menopause. She outlines what we know so far about the experiences of neurodivergent people during menopause and explores some of the additional challenges that might be faced. Sadly, some people in her studies have described facing barriers or feeling invalidated when seeking help. Dr Moseley provides some excellent advice for individuals going through menopause, for their families and for employers.

From research, we know a lot about the impact of parental mental health on children. But we know less about the impact of children's mental health on parents. In this interview, Dr Faith Martin, currently senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Cardiff, discusses her research into the effects that children's mental health difficulties can have on parents and carers, and makes suggestions for how parents and carers might best manage their own wellbeing when they are looking after a young person in distress. If you are a parent or carer in this situation, tune in for numerous simple, practical tips that might help in everyday life. Remember, you matter too!

In this interview, Dr Wesley O'Brien, Senior Lecturer in Physical Education and Coaching Science at University College Cork, chats to us about his work on fundamental movement skills. Discover how actively developing these foundational movements when children are young can have long lasting positive impact on both their physical health and academic achievements. Dr O'Brien provides numerous practical tips to help both parents and teachers embed these skills into everyday life and learning.

Author Kandace Chimbiri discusses her most recent book, The Story of Britain's Black Nurses, which uncovers the contributions of numerous Black nurses, mainly women, in Britain. Written predominantly for children, it's a fascinating read for everyone which reveals a rich history and highlights the importance of Black nurses to the UK health service. We talk to Kandace about these inspiring stories and chat more generally about Black History Month, key things for teachers and parents to consider when talking about Black history and other great resources.

Our new researcher of the month, Dr Margarita Panayiotou chats to Dr Cassie Rhodes about her recent paper which examines the impact of social media use within the complex systems of adolescent mental health and development. In findings which might surprise listeners, her study showed that for the group of teens studied, social media was one of the least influential factors on mental health with other things like bullying and lack of family support being more significant. Tune in to find out more about what this might mean in practice and how we can cultivate open discussions with young people about healthy social media and smartphone use.

In this conversation, Dr Sophie Zadeh, a researcher who specialises in families formed through donor-assisted conception, and Nina Barnsley, director of the Donor Conception Network, chat about how best to support donor conceived children, both at home and school. In the past, parents were often advised that it was not necessary to tell children about using a donor. Today, we know that open conversations are a positive thing from an early age. Sophie talks us through the research evidence and Nina outlines what she's learned from many years of working with families. Interested listeners will be pointed to some excellent resources.

Lucy Bray, Professor of Child Health Literacy at Edge Hill University chats to us about the things that children need to help them feel better prepared for medical procedures, whether routine appointments or something more serious. Find out more about the things that can improve both children's and parent's knowledge and satisfaction regarding planned procedures and what reduces worries and wobbles that both we and they might feel.

Our latest Researcher of the Month, Dr Caoimhe Dempsey, chats to Dr Cassie Rhodes about her new paper, which focuses on how the different relationships that young children have with important adults in their lives interact with each other, and how these relationships contribute to children's school adjustment. The interview is packed with useful tips for parents and educators alike and outlines interesting new findings about the power of positive child-teacher relationships for children who might have a conflictual relationship with their mum (specifically) at home.

Christine Cunniffe, Principal of LVS Ascot in Berkshire, talks to Tooled Up about her approach to lesson observations and building school culture: what makes an emotionally healthy school where there is an optimal relationship between staff and students? Christine is the author of 'Transforming School Culture Through Lesson Observations' (Routledge, 2021).

Jessica Bondy and Dr Pienaar talk to us about new charity Words Matter, which aims to end the verbal abuse of children by the adults around them. Find out more about the prevalence of verbal abuse and get some top tips for how we can build children up, rather than knock them down.

Dr Sue Roffey chats to us about her new books, ASPIRE to Wellbeing and Learning for All in Early Years and Primary and ASPIRE to Wellbeing and Learning for All in Secondary Settings. A must listen for all educators and parents, Dr Roffey describes a framework for creating learning environments where all pupils can thrive and make progress in learning, and where wellbeing for everyone is at the heart of every school.

Understanding, responding to and supporting young people who self-harm is vital. Friends are typically the first and sometimes the only source of support sought by teens who self-harm. For young people, this can be a challenging and pressured role, which many may feel unequipped to deal with. We spoke to Dr Delfina Bilello about her work which explores the perspectives and experiences of these friends. Tune in for her great advice for friends themselves and her top tips for those parents and educators supporting the supporters.

Board-Certified paediatrician, Dr Joel “Gator” Warsh's new book, 'Parenting at Your Child's Pace: The Integrative Paediatrician's Guide to the First Three Years' is due for publication in August 2024. Tune in to find out about the seeds of wellbeing and get Dr Warsh's perspective on harmoniously bridging the gap between the “right way” of doing things, and the way that is right for your unique, individual child - whilst remaining reasonable and safe. Topics addressed include sleep, screen time, diet and developmental milestones.

We are joined by five members of OPTIMA, a research programme which tests whether a new mobile phone app called STEPS can help families of children awaiting clinical assessment for conditions such as ADHD or autism. STEPS (which is still being trialled) does not replace clinical support, but gives parents access to additional help while they are on the waitlist. Any families in this situation will want to find out more about this eight module app, hear insights from parents who have lived experience of the assessment process and get some top tips for managing challenges.

Our Researcher of the Month, Dr Kasia Kostyrka-Allchorne, chats to Dr Cassie Rhodes about her new paper which reviews the evidence on how young people with clinically significant mental health difficulties engage with the digital world. She discusses some emergent themes and explores how teachers and parents can best support children and teens to maintain a healthy and beneficial digital diet.

In this interview, Professor Claire Hughes, a developmental psychologist at Cambridge University, talks to Dr Weston about her forthcoming book, The Psychology of Starting School. Learn more about school readiness, early friendships and what parents and teachers can do to impact positively on this period of transition.

Does it matter if your toddler plays games on the iPad? Should very young children be using digital devices at all? What impact does parents' screen use have on our young children? How much screen time is too much for babies and young children? Dr Andy Ribner joins us to bust some myths and focus on what the available research evidence really shows.

Discover the science behind the sticks as Dr Marie-Stephanie Cahart talks about her fascinating work which explores the amazing impact that learning to drum has on brain structures and behaviours, particularly for autistic young people.

In this must listen interview for any early years educators, Dr Gillian West chats to Dr Cassie Rhodes about a fantastic new oral language enrichment and intervention programme for children delivered the year before they enter formal education. NELI Preschool is designed around the principles of shared book reading and guided play, and aims to improve vocabulary, develop narrative skills, encourage active listening and build confidence in speaking. Find out about extremely promising results from a randomised control trial which assessed the programme's efficacy, learn more about the importance of language development for children's attainment and wellbeing, and get some top tips on supporting children optimally.

This inspiring conversation between Dr Weston and five time karate world champion, Professor Geoff Thompson, takes us from Geoff's childhood and sporting career, to his work at major sporting games. He explains his desire for every community and organisation to sign up to the Youth Charter, an organisation, founded by Geoff, which aims to provide sport, art, cultural and digital activity to all young people.

Our latest Researcher of the Month, Dr Julie Moote, chats to Dr Cassie Rhodes about her newly published paper, 'More is More: Exploring the Relationship Between Young People's Experiences of School-Based Career Education, Information, Advice and Guidance at Age 14–16 and Wider Adult Outcomes at Age 21–22 in England'. Dr Moote's findings will be of great interest to any school wanting to understand more about the benefits of careers education and the best ways to embed great practice. The conversation ends with some fantastic tips for parents to use at home when talking about careers with children.

In this episode, Dr Meinou Simmons provides some tips for both parents and educators and answers some parent questions on children's mental health, focusing on the importance of sleep, connection and support networks.

Dr Kumar chats to Dr Cassie Rhodes about her recent recent research, which examined whether there are differences in the messages that preschool teachers send girls and boys about science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Listen for lots of tips on fostering scientific curiosity and interest for ALL young children.

Researcher of the Month, Dr Mariya Stoilova, joins Dr Cassie Rhodes to talk about the efficacy of parental control tools, why families use them and whether they achieve what they claim to. This interview is packed with practical tips and food for thought for parents with children of all ages.

Charles Fadel, founder and chairman of the Center for Curriculum Redesign, and global education thought leader, chats with Dr Weston about his new book: 'Education for the Age of AI: Why, What and How should students learn for the age of Artificial Intelligence?'. Charles talks us through the positive role that AI can play in education and the holistic changes that are needed in the system over the coming years.

Researcher of the month, Dr Francesca Solmi, discusses her new paper, which looks at the links between high BMI, body dissatisfaction and depression in children. Whilst she talks through some concerning findings, the interview is ultimately one of hope, providing numerous things that we can do to help children and young people have better body image and, hopefully, better mental health.

In this interview, we hear from Professor Michael Thomas and Dr Simon Green, who have just published a fascinating book called '⁠How the Brain Works: What Psychology Students Need to Know⁠'. Written in a playful style and illustrated throughout, it is designed to support students as they embark on the beginning of their psychology degree, but we think that it is extremely accessible and highly recommend it for everyone! In this enlightening conversation, Dr Weston finds out how our understanding of brain science can be practically applied in our everyday parenting.

One of our researchers of the month, Professor Amelia Lake, talks to Dr Cassie Rhodes about her newly published study, co-authored with Dr Shelina Visram and other members of the FUSE team. It outlines numerous risks associated with children and young people's consumption of energy drinks, including an increased incidence of mental health problems. Professor Lake talks us through the evidence, outlines her hopes for policy change and provides some useful practical suggestions for parents and schools.

Our Researcher of the Month, PhD student Anda Solea, talks to us about her new paper, ‘Mainstreaming the Blackpill: Understanding the Incel Community on TikTok'. She discusses how misogynistic incel ideology is proliferating on mainstream social media platforms through the use of covert messaging and pseudoscience, and considers what parents and teachers might be able to do to counter these messages and encourage young people to think critically about the things that they see online.

In this interview, Advanced Specialist Eating Disorder Dietitian, Paola Falcoski, helps us get to grips with ARFID; an eating disorder where individuals have a very restricted diet, but are not motivated by body image concerns. We learn about the characteristics of ARFID, the diagnosis process and numerous strategies that can help to expose children and young people to new foods. Paola also fills us in on some excellent free resources that will benefit young people, parents and school staff.

In this interview, we learn all about developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and get some top tips from two experts in the field. We also hear about an exciting research project, which schools might be interested in joining!

Cybercrime expert, Dr Lisa Sugiura explains what the 'manosphere' is and explores the harms of online misogyny and how it might impact on young people. This interview is packed with tips about how to talk to young people about these issues, encouraging cognitive flexibility and critical consumption of what see and read online.

In this interview, Professor Peter Smith and Dr Jennifer St.George talk to us about their fascinating work on rough and tumble play. What is it? How does it differ from play fighting? And how should we respond to this kind of play, both at home and at school?

Our Researcher of the Month, PhD student, Gemma Goldenberg, tells us about her exciting research into the impact of learning outdoors on young children. Tune in for some fascinating findings about how simply being outdoors for a few minutes has a significant positive impact on children's physiological stress levels.