--- title: Blog description: "Unlocking the Power of Sensory Play: Nurturing Neural Connections in Early Years — Babyzone" --- [Matched funding live: every donation is doubled from 2-16 June.](https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000C7riEYAR) [![Babyzone\_PrimaryLogo\_Colour\_OnLight\_RGB-1](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Babyzone_PrimaryLogo_Colour_OnLight_RGB-1.png?width=1175&height=410&name=Babyzone_PrimaryLogo_Colour_OnLight_RGB-1.png "Babyzone_PrimaryLogo_Colour_OnLight_RGB-1")](https://babyzone.org.uk) [![Babyzone\_PrimaryLogo\_Colour\_OnDark\_RGB-2](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Babyzone_PrimaryLogo_Colour_OnDark_RGB-2.png?width=1175&height=410&name=Babyzone_PrimaryLogo_Colour_OnDark_RGB-2.png "Babyzone_PrimaryLogo_Colour_OnDark_RGB-2")](https://babyzone.org.uk) - [About Us](https://babyzone.org.uk/about-us) - [Our Model](https://babyzone.org.uk/our-model) - [Our People](https://babyzone.org.uk/team) - [Careers](https://babyzone.org.uk/careers) - [Hubs](https://babyzone.org.uk/visit-us) - [Volunteer](https://babyzone.org.uk/volunteer) - [Our Programmes](https://babyzone.org.uk/programmes) - [Partners](https://babyzone.org.uk/partners) - [Academy](https://babyzone.org.uk/academy) - Impact & Insights - [Impact](https://babyzone.org.uk/research-impact) - [Research](https://babyzone.org.uk/babyzone-research) - News & Media - [News](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone) - [Media](https://babyzone.org.uk/media) - [Baby Buddy](https://babyzone.org.uk/baby-buddy) - [About](https://babyzone.org.uk/baby-buddy) - [For Parents](https://babyzone.org.uk/babybuddy-for-parents) - [For Local Authorities](https://babyzone.org.uk/baby-buddy-for-local-authorities) [Donate](https://babyzone.org.uk/donate) - [About Us](https://babyzone.org.uk/about-us) - [Our Model](https://babyzone.org.uk/our-model) - [Our People](https://babyzone.org.uk/team) - [Careers](https://babyzone.org.uk/careers) - [Hubs](https://babyzone.org.uk/visit-us) - [Volunteer](https://babyzone.org.uk/volunteer) - [Our Programmes](https://babyzone.org.uk/programmes) - [Partners](https://babyzone.org.uk/partners) - [Academy](https://babyzone.org.uk/academy) - Impact & Insights - [Impact](https://babyzone.org.uk/research-impact) - [Research](https://babyzone.org.uk/babyzone-research) - News & Media - [News](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone) - [Media](https://babyzone.org.uk/media) - [Baby Buddy](https://babyzone.org.uk/baby-buddy) - [About](https://babyzone.org.uk/baby-buddy) - [For Parents](https://babyzone.org.uk/babybuddy-for-parents) - [For Local Authorities](https://babyzone.org.uk/baby-buddy-for-local-authorities) [Donate](https://babyzone.org.uk/donate) # News [![Babyzone Preston opens at Vault Youth Zone](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Preston%20Team.jpeg?width=600&name=Preston%20Team.jpeg)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/babyzone-preston-opens-at-vault-youth-zone) ### [Babyzone Preston opens at Vault Youth Zone](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/babyzone-preston-opens-at-vault-youth-zone) Our 14th hub and fifth in the North West opened at Vault Youth Zone, welcoming 228 people on day one. Free early years support every Wednesday. October 6th, 2026 · 2 min read [![Babyzone Brent opens at Brent Hub Community Enterprise Centre](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Brent.jpg?width=600&name=Brent.jpg)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/babyzone-brent-opens-at-brent-hub-community-enterprise-centre) ### [Babyzone Brent opens at Brent Hub Community Enterprise Centre](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/babyzone-brent-opens-at-brent-hub-community-enterprise-centre) Babyzone's 13th hub opens in Stonebridge, the first funded by a local authority through Brent Council's Best Start in Life programme. Free for families. October 6th, 2026 · 2 min read [![Sir Lindsay Hoyle officially opens Babyzone Chorley](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Hoyle.jpeg?width=600&name=Hoyle.jpeg)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/sir-lindsay-hoyle-officially-opens-babyzone-chorley) ### [Sir Lindsay Hoyle officially opens Babyzone Chorley](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/sir-lindsay-hoyle-officially-opens-babyzone-chorley) The Speaker of the House of Commons and MP for Chorley officially opened Babyzone Chorley at Inspire Youth Zone. Free early years support for families. October 6th, 2026 · 1 min read [![Best Beginnings Episode 23: Christian Guy on the urgency that early childhood deserves](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/CHRISTIAN%20GUY%20THUMBNAIL.png?width=600&name=CHRISTIAN%20GUY%20THUMBNAIL.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-23-christian-guy-on-the-urgency-that-early-childhood-deserves) ### [Best Beginnings Episode 23: Christian Guy on the urgency that early childhood deserves](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-23-christian-guy-on-the-urgency-that-early-childhood-deserves) Christian Guy of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood on why the science of the early years needs the same urgency as climate change and what it takes. October 6th, 2026 · 6 min read [![Best Beginnings Episode 22: Professor Linda Mayes on why parents are developing too](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/LINDA%20THUMBNAIL.png?width=600&name=LINDA%20THUMBNAIL.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-22-dr.-linda-mayes-on-why-parents-are-developing-too) ### [Best Beginnings Episode 22: Professor Linda Mayes on why parents are developing too](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-22-dr.-linda-mayes-on-why-parents-are-developing-too) Babyzone speaks to Professor Linda Mayes of Yale about parenting, the brain, addiction and why steady relationships are the most powerful intervention of all. September 29th, 2026 · 5 min read [![Best Beginnings Episode 21: Dr. Fiona Challacombe on the anxiety that arrives with the baby](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/FIONA.png?width=600&name=FIONA.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-21-dr.-fiona-challacombe-on-the-anxiety-that-arrives-with-the-baby) ### [Best Beginnings Episode 21: Dr. Fiona Challacombe on the anxiety that arrives with the baby](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-21-dr.-fiona-challacombe-on-the-anxiety-that-arrives-with-the-baby) Oxford clinical psychologist Dr. Fiona Challacombe on perinatal anxiety, OCD, misdiagnosis and why anxiety is more common than postnatal depression. September 22nd, 2026 · 6 min read [![Best Beginnings Episode 20: Professor Claire Hughes on siblings, school transitions and the science of the happy learner](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/CLAIRE%20HUGHES%20THUMBNAIL.png?width=600&name=CLAIRE%20HUGHES%20THUMBNAIL.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-20) ### [Best Beginnings Episode 20: Professor Claire Hughes on siblings, school transitions and the science of the happy learner](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-20) Cambridge's Professor Claire Hughes on what twenty years of longitudinal research reveals about siblings, fathers, school readiness and why happy children learn better. September 15th, 2026 · 6 min read [![Best Beginnings Episode 19: Dr Sanjiv Nichani OBE on why the young brain was never built for this](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/SANJIV%20NICHANI%20THUMBNAIL.png?width=600&name=SANJIV%20NICHANI%20THUMBNAIL.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-19-dr-sanjiv-nichani-obe-on-why-the-young-brain-was-never-built-for-this) ### [Best Beginnings Episode 19: Dr Sanjiv Nichani OBE on why the young brain was never built for this](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-19-dr-sanjiv-nichani-obe-on-why-the-young-brain-was-never-built-for-this) Dr Sanjiv Nichani OBE on why children's brains are evolutionarily defenceless against screens, and why movement is the most powerful antidote we have. September 8th, 2026 · 5 min read [![Babyzone Visits Oxford's BabyLab to Explore the Science of Executive Function](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/BABY%20LAB.jpeg?width=600&name=BABY%20LAB.jpeg)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/babyzone-visits-oxfords-babylab-to-explore-the-science-of-executive-function) ### [Babyzone Visits Oxford's BabyLab to Explore the Science of Executive Function](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/babyzone-visits-oxfords-babylab-to-explore-the-science-of-executive-function) Babyzone visited Oxford's BabyLab to learn about executive function research and explore how developmental science can better support parents at its hubs. August 14th, 2026 · 2 min read [1](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone) [2](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/page/2) [3](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/page/3) ... [11](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/page/11) [Read our 2025 Strategy & Impact Report](https://babyzone.org.uk/hubfs/Babyzone%20Impact%20Report%202025.hr.pdf) [![Babyzone](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Babyzone_PrimaryLogo_Colour_OnDark_RGB-2-1.png?width=250&height=59&name=Babyzone_PrimaryLogo_Colour_OnDark_RGB-2-1.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/) Supporting families through early years with expert guidance, resources, and community connection. Every child deserves the best start in life. ![Living wage](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Living%20Wage%20Employer%20Logo.png?width=100&height=79&name=Living%20Wage%20Employer%20Logo.png) [![Fundraising Regulator badge with validation link](https://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/fr-badge/5bbc7fb5-38d5-4c79-aa8e-22ec919a9f84/en/colour)](https://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/directory/babyzone) ### Quick Links - [About Us](https://babyzone.org.uk/about-us) - [Our Team](https://babyzone.org.uk/team) - [Hubs](https://babyzone.org.uk/visit-us) - [Our Programmes](https://babyzone.org.uk/programmes) - [Partners](https://babyzone.org.uk/partners) - [Academy](https://babyzone.org.uk/academy) - [Impact](https://babyzone.org.uk/research-impact) - [Research](https://babyzone.org.uk/babyzone-research) - [News & Media](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone) - [Baby Buddy](https://babyzone.org.uk/baby-buddy-old) ### Contact Us hello@babyzone.org.uk Scale Space, 58 Wood Lane, London, W12 7RZ Babyzone is a registered charity in England and Wales (1198316) and in Scotland (SC054355) ### Sign up to our newsletter here Get the latest Early Years News Roundup delivered to your inbox [Early Years News Roundup](https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/1Vneg2jsPR5C3b2eBW289Jw2b57kc) [Donate](https://babyzone.org.uk/donate) © 2026 Babyzone. 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