--- title: Blog | Admin 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) - [About](https://babyzone.org.uk/baby-buddy-about) - [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) - [About](https://babyzone.org.uk/baby-buddy-about) - [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 [![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 [![Babyzone Calls for Early Years to Count as Social Value in Public Procurement](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/1786044546970.jpeg?width=600&name=1786044546970.jpeg)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/babyzone-calls-for-early-years-to-count-as-social-value-in-public-procurement) ### [Babyzone Calls for Early Years to Count as Social Value in Public Procurement](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/babyzone-calls-for-early-years-to-count-as-social-value-in-public-procurement) Babyzone has written to the First Secretary of State, Louise Haigh MP, urging early years support be recognised in the Government's revised Social Value Model. August 14th, 2026 · 1 min read [![Babyzone Writes to New Early Years Minister](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-08-14%20at%2013.09.22.png?width=600&name=Screenshot%202026-08-14%20at%2013.09.22.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/babyzone-writes-to-new-early-years-minister) ### [Babyzone Writes to New Early Years Minister](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/babyzone-writes-to-new-early-years-minister) Babyzone has written to Paul Waugh MP, the new Minister for Early Education, on how community-led hubs can help deliver the Best Start in Life strategy. August 14th, 2026 · 1 min read [![What families told us about early relationships support and why it matters](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/WIGAN%20HANDS.png?width=600&name=WIGAN%20HANDS.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/what-families-said-about-early-relationships-support-and-why-it-matters) ### [What families told us about early relationships support and why it matters](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/what-families-said-about-early-relationships-support-and-why-it-matters) Families shared what helps: practical, trusted support, less pressure to be “perfect”, and help that doesn’t disappear after age two. August 6th, 2026 · 1 min read [![What season one of Best Beginnings taught us](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/HIGHLIGHTS%20THUMBNAIL.png?width=600&name=HIGHLIGHTS%20THUMBNAIL.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/what-season-one-of-best-beginnings-taught-us) ### [What season one of Best Beginnings taught us](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/what-season-one-of-best-beginnings-taught-us) What 17 conversations with early years experts taught Babyzone about babies, confidence and the case for investing early. August 4th, 2026 · 9 min read [1](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone) [2](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/author/admin/page/2) [3](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/author/admin/page/3) ... [10](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/author/admin/page/10) [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) ### 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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