In this episode of The Early Years Together, Deborah Brown and Dr Jacqueline Young explore what high‑quality interactions really mean in early childhood education, and why they are so important for children’s learning and development.

The conversation unpacks what high‑quality interactions look like in practice—being attuned, present, and genuinely interested in children’s ideas. Deborah and Jacqueline discuss the role of language, “serve and return” exchanges, and giving children time to think and respond. They also discuss Sustained Shared Thinking, sharing practical examples of how adults and children can think together to deepen understanding.

The episode offers accessible tips for practitioners and parents, showing how everyday moments, care routines, and play can support communication and connection.

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Episode Two References:

Mashburn, A.J., Pianta, R.C., Hamre, B.K., Downer, J.T., Barbarin, O.A., Bryant, D., et al. (2008). Measures of classroom quality in prekindergarten and children’s development of academic, language, and social skills. Child Development, 79(3), 732–749.

Siraj-Blatchford, I., Muttock, S., Sylva, K., Gilden, R. and Bell, D., 2002. Researching effective pedagogy in the early years (Vol. 356). London: Department for Education and Skills.

Music composed by Luke Young (LinkedIn profile https://bit.ly/lukeyoung)