Children's Friendships Matter

In this tenth episode Dr Caron Carter talks to Dr Luke Beardon about Friendship and Neuro-divergent children. Terms and concepts such as neuro-divergent and neuro-divergence, equality and equity, reasonable adjustments and diverging sociality are discussed. In summary, this episode explores what friendship means to neuro-divergent children and how we might listen and support.

In this nineth episode Dr Caron Carter talks to Headteacher, Cathy Rowland about children’s friendships in the Infant School context. This episode delves the friendship joys and challenges that emerge for children, educators, teachersand parents, reflecting on what we might learn from both practice and research. Here we explore the benefits of friendship, how schools currently scaffold friendships...

In this eighth episode Dr Caron Carter talks to Professor John Potter , who led the ESRC funded project, the Play Observatory. Here we explore John’s research using media in Education to chronicle children’s stories and the links to children’s friendships. We reflect on children’s experiences at school, being online during Covid-19 and playground play and the Opie archive.

In this seventh episode Dr Caron Carter talks to  Deputy Headteacher, Richard Owen  about children’s friendships in the Primary School context. This episode delves into some of the friendship issues that emerge for children, teachers, and parents today. Why are friendships so important during primary school education? How do schools support children’s friendships? How is play integral to children’...

In this sixth episode (part 2 of 2) Dr Caron Carter talks to Dr Sacha Powell, Professor Tina Bruce & Dr Stella Louis, reflecting on Froebelian courses and the impact of COVID 19 on children’s friendships.

In this fifth episode (part 1 of 2) Dr Caron Carter talks to Dr Sacha Powell Professor Tina Bruce & Dr Stella Louis, exploring Froebelian principles and their links to children’s friendships, considering how a Froebelian ethos can support children’s friendships. 

In this fourth episode Dr Caron Carter talks to Professor Kate Adams about the concept of imaginary friends. Asking: Are there different types of imaginary friend? How should we react to the presence of an imaginary friend? How can we support children with their imaginary friends?

In this third episode (part 2 of 2) Dr Caron Carter talks to Professor Chris Pascal & Professor Tony Bertram about the role of adults in children’s friendships, time and friendship and hope and optimism.

In this second episode (part 1 of 2) Dr Caron Carter talks to Professor Chris Pascal & Professor Tony Bertram about the importance of children’s friendships in Early Childhood Education and the links to children’s wellbeing, including flourishment and joy, encouraging children to connect respectfully with others and recovery and re-entry into school and settings post Covid-19.

In this first episode Dr Caron Carter talks to Professor Alison Clark, the author of ‘Slow Knowledge and the Unhurried Child’, about children’s friendships through the lens of ‘Slow Pedagogy’, reflecting on what we might learn for both practice and future research directions.

Welcome to the Children’s Friendships Podcast. I’m Dr Caron Carter a Senior Lecturer and Researcher in Early Childhood and Childhood Education at Sheffield Hallam University. This is a Podcast for academics, teachers, practitioners, and parents. This podcast seeks to explore ways of supporting children’s friendships in educational contexts. This series has been inspired by research I have carried...