Active listening is one of the most powerful foundations for early communication. In this episode, we explore why listening matters so much in the early years, how it supports language development, and what the EYFS says about listening and understanding.

We break down practical ways adults can model active listening—being present, responding with attunement, validating feelings, and noticing non‑verbal cues. The episode also introduces the EEF’s ShREC approach and shares simple strategies to help young children become active listeners through open‑ended questions, thinking time, playful listening games, and reducing background noise.

This episode is ideal for early years practitioners, students, parents, and anyone interested in child development, communication, and high‑quality early learning environments. If you’re looking for evidence‑informed strategies to strengthen children’s language and listening skills, this conversation offers clear, actionable insights you can use right away.

Subscribe, share, and step into a podcast made for reflective early years practice.

Episode Six References:

Rogers, C.R. and Farson, R.E., (1957). Active listening. Chicago, IL.

Jardri, R., Houfflin-Debarge, V., Delion, P., Pruvo, J.P., Thomas, P., & Pins, D. (2012) ‘Assessing fetal response to maternal speech using a noninvasive functional brain imaging technique’, Int J Dev Neurosci., 30: 159–61.

Links to website:

EEF ShREC approach

https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/early-years/the-shrec-approach

Early Years Foundation Stage Framework

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2

Help for Early Years Providers

https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/

Hosts:

Deborah Brown www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-brown79

Dr Jacqueline Young www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jacqueline-young

Podcast produced by:

Luke Young www.linkedin.com/in/lukeyoungcomposer

Title music by:

Luke Young www.linkedin.com/in/lukeyoungcomposer

In this episode, Deborah and Jacqueline explore how babies begin learning to communicate in their earliest months. They discuss language development theories, early interactions, and the Reggio Emilia concept of the “Hundred Languages of Children,” offering practical ways to support infants as emerging communicators.

Subscribe, share, and step into a podcast made for reflective early years practice.

Episode Five References:

Chomsky, N. (1959). Review of Verbal Behavior by B. F. Skinner. Language, 35. 26-58

Chomsky, N. (1968). Language and Mind. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World

Kidd, E. and Garcia, R., (2022). How diverse is child language acquisition research? First Language, 42(6), pp.703-735.

Malaguzzi, L. (1994) ‘Your image of the child: where teaching begins’, Child Care Information Exchange, pp. 52–57.

Skinner, B.F. (1957). Verbal Behaviour. Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York

Hosts:

Deborah Brown www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-brown79

Dr Jacqueline Young www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jacqueline-young

Music composed by:

Luke Young www.linkedin.com/in/lukeyoungcomposer

In this episode of Early Years Together, Dr Jacqueline Young and Deborah Brown take a deep dive into the power of open‑ended questions in early years interactions. Building on previous conversations about high‑quality adult–child communication, they explore what open‑ended questions are, why they matter, and how parents and practitioners can use them to nurture rich, imaginative, and sustained talk.

This episode blends research insights, real‑world practice, and practical examples — perfect for anyone supporting children’s communication and language development.

Subscribe, share, and step into a podcast made for reflective early years practice.

Episode Four References:

Worley, P., (2015). Open thinking, closed questioning: Two kinds of open and closed question. Journal of Philosophy in Schools.

Link to Philosophy for Children website: https://p4c.com/

Hosts:

Deborah Brown www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-brown79

Dr Jacqueline Young www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jacqueline-young

Music composed by:

Luke Young www.linkedin.com/in/lukeyoungcomposer