Stories from the Mat, with Jan

Why do children ask for the same story again and again? As adults, we can sometimes worry that repetition means a child isn't moving forward. Yet what if the opposite is true? In this episode of Stories from the Mat, with Jan, I explore how repetition helps children build language, confidence and understanding. Drawing on the work of Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Lev Vygotsky, Jerome Bruner and Urie Bronfenb...

Why do children ask for the same story again and again? They already know the characters. They know the favourite parts. They know how it ends. Yet they keep coming back. In this episode of Stories from the Mat, with Jan, we explore what stories do for children, why familiarity can be just as powerful as novelty, and how favourite stories become active learning experiences. Drawing on the work of...

Have you ever found yourself wondering whether a child is ready? Ready for school. Ready for reading. Ready for the next step. It's a question many parents and grandparents ask. Yet readiness is often more complex than we think. In this episode of Stories from the Mat, with Jan, I explore why children develop at different rates, why comparison can sometimes create unnecessary worry, and why readin...

Confidence is seldom built in the big moments. More often, it grows quietly through everyday experiences: helping in the kitchen, asking questions on a bus journey, trying something difficult, making mistakes, and trying again. In this episode of  Stories from the Mat, with Jan , I explore how attachment, attention and attempt come together in ordinary moments to help children develop confidence,...

What matters most in a child's learning journey? We often focus on letters, numbers and milestones. Yet before children learn what to think, they learn how learning feels. In this episode of Stories from the Mat with Jan, we explore why confidence comes before curriculum, how children learn naturally, and why the experiences we create in the early years can shape learning for life. Drawing on pers...

Episode 1: What Learning Feels Like What children learn before the age of five isn't just skills, it's how learning feels. And that feeling stays. In this first episode of  Stories from the Mat, with Jan , Jan Falconer explores the early experiences that help shape confidence, curiosity and a willingness to try. Drawing on neuroscience, personal stories and everyday family life, she reflects on wh...