--- title: Blog (4) description: "Unlocking the Power of Sensory Play: Nurturing Neural Connections in Early Years — Babyzone (4)" --- [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 [![Best Beginnings Episode 11: Laura Henry-Allain MBE on Why Reading Starts Before a Child Can Read](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/LAURA%20THUMBNAIL.png?width=600&name=LAURA%20THUMBNAIL.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-10-laura-henry-allain-mbe-on-why-reading-starts-before-a-child-can-read) ### [Best Beginnings Episode 11: Laura Henry-Allain MBE on Why Reading Starts Before a Child Can Read](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-10-laura-henry-allain-mbe-on-why-reading-starts-before-a-child-can-read) Professor Paul Seedhouse on the interaction engine, the communication system your baby is born with that predates language by two million years and why it matters. June 9th, 2026 · 6 min read [![Best Beginnings Episode 10: What Will Quince told us about power, prevention and the first 1001 days](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/WILL%20QUINCE%20THUMBNAIL.png?width=600&name=WILL%20QUINCE%20THUMBNAIL.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-10-what-will-quince-told-us-about-power-prevention-and-the-first-1001-days) ### [Best Beginnings Episode 10: What Will Quince told us about power, prevention and the first 1001 days](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-10-what-will-quince-told-us-about-power-prevention-and-the-first-1001-days) Former Minister and CEO of The 1,001 Critical Days Foundation, Will Quince, joins George Looker to make the case for investing in the first 1001 days. June 8th, 2026 · 7 min read [![Babyzone CEO gives evidence to Parliament on the Child Poverty Strategy](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Committee.jpeg?width=600&name=Committee.jpeg)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-10-best-beginnings-episode-10-what-will-quince-told-us-about-power-prevention-and-the-first-1001-days) ### [Babyzone CEO gives evidence to Parliament on the Child Poverty Strategy](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-10-best-beginnings-episode-10-what-will-quince-told-us-about-power-prevention-and-the-first-1001-days) Babyzone CEO George Looker gave oral evidence to Parliament on the Child Poverty Strategy. June 2nd, 2026 · 4 min read [![The System Knows Who Will Fail. We're Changing That.](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/GLD.jpeg?width=600&name=GLD.jpeg)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/the-system-knows-who-will-fail.-were-changing-that) ### [The System Knows Who Will Fail. We're Changing That.](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/the-system-knows-who-will-fail.-were-changing-that) The Milburn Review confirms what we see every day: disadvantage compounds from birth. Here's why Babyzone's early intervention model is more urgent than ever. May 28th, 2026 · 2 min read [![Best Beginnings Episode 9: Professor Paul Seedhouse on the language before language](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/PAUL%20SEEDHOUSE%20THUMBNAIL.png?width=600&name=PAUL%20SEEDHOUSE%20THUMBNAIL.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-9-professor-paul-seedhouse-on-the-language-before-language) ### [Best Beginnings Episode 9: Professor Paul Seedhouse on the language before language](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-9-professor-paul-seedhouse-on-the-language-before-language) Professor Paul Seedhouse on the interaction engine, the communication system your baby is born with that predates language by two million years and why it matters. May 26th, 2026 · 10 min read [![Best Beginnings Episode 8: What Sophie Livingstone told us about dignity, essentials and what we all owe children in poverty](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/SOPHIE%20LIVINGSTONE%20THUMBNAIL-1.png?width=600&name=SOPHIE%20LIVINGSTONE%20THUMBNAIL-1.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-8-best-beginnings-episode-8-what-sophie-livingstone-told-us-about-dignity-essentials-and-what-we-all-owe-children-in-poverty) ### [Best Beginnings Episode 8: What Sophie Livingstone told us about dignity, essentials and what we all owe children in poverty](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-8-best-beginnings-episode-8-what-sophie-livingstone-told-us-about-dignity-essentials-and-what-we-all-owe-children-in-poverty) Sophie Livingstone MBE, CEO of Little Village, on dignity, baby essentials and what we all owe children growing up in poverty. May 19th, 2026 · 4 min read [![Best Beginnings Episode 7: Dr Martha Deiros Collado on why you're doing better as a parent than you think](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/DR%20MARTHA%20THUMBNAIL.png?width=600&name=DR%20MARTHA%20THUMBNAIL.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-7-dr-martha-deiros-collado-on-why-youre-doing-better-as-a-parent-than-you-think) ### [Best Beginnings Episode 7: Dr Martha Deiros Collado on why you're doing better as a parent than you think](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-7-dr-martha-deiros-collado-on-why-youre-doing-better-as-a-parent-than-you-think) Dr Martha Deiros Collado on why the science says you are doing better than you think and what every parent deserves to know. May 12th, 2026 · 8 min read [![Best Beginnings Episode 6: Professor Sam Wass on what screens are really doing to your child's brain](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/SAM%20THUMBNAIL.png?width=600&name=SAM%20THUMBNAIL.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-6-professor-sam-wass-on-what-screens-are-really-doing-to-your-childs-brain) ### [Best Beginnings Episode 6: Professor Sam Wass on what screens are really doing to your child's brain](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-6-professor-sam-wass-on-what-screens-are-really-doing-to-your-childs-brain) Fast-paced content puts children into fight or flight mode. That's why they're ratty off screens. May 5th, 2026 · 9 min read [![Best Beginnings Episode 5: What Alex Christopoulos told us about money, families and the early years](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/ALEX%20THUMBNAIL.png?width=600&name=ALEX%20THUMBNAIL.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-5-what-alex-christopoulos-told-us-about-money-families-and-the-early-years) ### [Best Beginnings Episode 5: What Alex Christopoulos told us about money, families and the early years](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-5-what-alex-christopoulos-told-us-about-money-families-and-the-early-years) In our latest Best Beginnings podcast episode, we sit down with Alex Christopoulos, Aviva Foundation Lead, to explore the link between financial stress and child development. April 28th, 2026 · 6 min read [1](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone) [2](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/page/2) [3](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/page/3) [4](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/page/4) [5](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/page/5) [6](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/page/6) ... [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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