Brains develop more rapidly in the early years of life than they ever will again.  It is important that we create systems, settings and communities that meet young children’s emotional needs, because those experiences of other people are fuelling the specifics of that brain growth.

The emotional lessons children learn during their early years are built into their biology. Do those discoveries teach them that people are trustworthy? Or do they teach them that life is full of lonely uncertainty, so it is best to stay hyper-alert to the people in your world? The way we treat children has a long-term impact on their development. Everyone caring for or wotking with children of any age deserves to understand these processes.

Suzanne works often with staff in the early years sector. Her goal is to help them appreciate how significant they are in children’s lives and how essential their emotional attunement is. In today’s society, some children spend up to 10 hours a day in an early years setting. The people who spend this time with them are having a massive impact on the development of their trust in relationships and in their resilience in coping with stress.

The comment Suzanne received from the leader of a parent-toddler session gives a sense of the power of these insights: “Oh my word. I have just had one of the most exciting afternoons of my life, listening to Dr Suzanne Zeedyk. This feels like a life changing experience.”

Here are examples of work that Suzanne has undertaken with partners in the early years field.

2020 – Better Start Bradford