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Ready, set, pretend: Ideas for imaginative play

Ready, set, pretend: Ideas for imaginative play

Just imagine! A few kitchen chairs and clean bedsheets become a fortress deep in the Hundred Acre Wood. One wooden spoon is a microphone, and two more are drumsticks. A stack of old newspapers is a dragon egg of paper mâché waiting to happen. Oh, the possibilities! Play is a part of evolutionary culture and an essential aspect of your child’s health and development. Play can prepare children for the complexity of everyday life, regulates the body’s response to stress, improves overall brain structure, and promotes a healthy drive for goals. Play and learning are inextricably linked as skills are honed in a fun, imaginative way. But exactly what does “imaginative play” mean? What are you supposed to do? Will…
Dr Neil Thompson
July 30, 2024
Safe to speak up? 4 ways to build psychological safety at work

Safe to speak up? 4 ways to build psychological safety at work

Over three-fifths (61%) of employees have resigned from a job due to workplace culture issues, according to the Oak Engage Toxic Workplace Report 2023. To build and maintain high-performing teams, leaders must therefore do their best to create a healthy and positive culture. How can they do this? To mark International Safe Places to Work Day, four experts share their advice on building psychological safety and creating a work environment where everyone can thrive. Click here to read more
Dr Neil Thompson
July 30, 2024
Neil Thompson’s Lessons for Living – Make a note of important ideas

Neil Thompson’s Lessons for Living – Make a note of important ideas

I regularly run courses on which, despite having been given handouts with space for notes about each part of the course, a high proportion of the participants will not write down a single word. Perhaps they all have photographic memories or maybe they believe that learning happens by magic – they just have to hear what is being said and don’t need to remember it or apply it in any way; it will just automatically make them better at their jobs without any effort on their part. Similarly, many people have a good idea, don’t write it down and later struggle to remember what their important insight was. I don’t understand why so many people appear to be reluctant to…
Dr Neil Thompson
July 18, 2024
Time off – Redesigning leave policies to support longer, healthier working lives

Time off – Redesigning leave policies to support longer, healthier working lives

People in the UK are living and working longer than ever before. However, the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath have exposed serious physical and mental health issues facing our workforce. Declining population health is a long-term trend that is forecast to get worse in coming years. Over the last century, rights and access to time off work have steadily increased. However, our ageing workforce today has more complex health needs and evolving responsibilities outside of paid work. Currently, 2.83 million people are economically inactive due to long-term health issues, and the Health Foundation predicts a significant rise in working-age adults with major illnesses by 2040. Meanwhile, the International Longevity Centre has warned that the retirement age may rise to 71…
Dr Neil Thompson
July 18, 2024
Seth Godin’s blog – The paradox of lessons

Seth Godin’s blog – The paradox of lessons

The people most likely to sign up for coaching or additional learning are the folks who are already good at their craft. “I’m terrible at this,” can lead to, “and I don’t want to be reminded of it.” Or perhaps, “I don’t want to waste their time,” or, “I’m never going to get better.” When it’s possible to get better, embracing mediocrity isn’t a useful strategy. I’d rather have a surgeon who regularly attends trainings, wouldn’t you? Read a book, find a coach, organize a group. If you’re serious about getting better, you’ll improve. Click here to read more
Dr Neil Thompson
July 18, 2024
Youth-led advocacy toolkit

Youth-led advocacy toolkit

Youth-led advocacy is about supporting young people to speak up and helping them actively take part in the decisions that affect them. Our Youth Advocacy Toolkit will give you the skills and information you need to stand up for what is important to you. This toolkit is for any young person who wants to start their own advocacy campaign. If you are a teacher or facilitator, you can also use this toolkit with your group to inspire them to work out which children’s rights issues they care about and how to go about creating the change they want to see. Click here to read more
Dr Neil Thompson
July 18, 2024