Sarah Kingham: Supporting Children's Well-being in the Digital Age

My 4 year B.Ed ignited a passion in me to deeply understand children’s development which has lasted for the last 40 years. Although I don’t have a Phd, I did study for my MA in education, and have spent years deepening my understanding of child development, whilst spending time in schools and early years settings.

I started my life as an Infant teacher in Hackney, London. Following teaching abroad and another London borough, I was curious about how young children become literate. This exploration led me to document my children’s writing and latterly to become a Local Authority English Advisory teacher, supporting the teaching of English in Primary schools.

I have had the professional fortune to have visited internationally renowned early years educational practice in Reggio Emilia (Italy) and New Zealand. I also led a teachers International Professional Development Trip to see schools in Finland.

I was a teacher (and school leader – Deputy Head) in primary, infant and nursery schools in London, Hertfordshire and Greece. For the last 20 years I have been a Local Authority (latterly HfL) Early Years Adviser visiting schools and settings and delivering training and keynotes.

Amongst my many qualifications, I am an accredited EEL trainer and I am trained in ECERS.

I have spent 20 years as a LA (latterly HfL) Early Years Adviser, supporting early years professionals, teachers, headteachers and the wider school community. I was the lead adviser for newly qualified teachers, leading their induction and assessing them against the Teacher’s Standards. I have visited early years schools and settings regularly and deliver training and keynotes, locally, nationally and internationally.

During the 2000's, I was a trainer for the UK based charity, Early Education where my expertise was sought on early literacy, (reading and writing), the outdoors and on ‘Understanding Girls and Boys’ from a child development perspective. It was during this time that I also created Readit2, and more recently Discovery Packs and the Stories With Sarah Youtube Channel.

In my role as Trustee of WATch charity, I trained health visitors and medical professionals on the latest scientific research on the first 1001 days of life.

I lobbied the local council, liaised with a range of professionals, established a multi-disciplinary group of professionals and hosted the screening of the ‘must see’ documentary RESILIENCE, for everyone interested in radically transforming society through understanding the impact of childhood trauma, following the 1999 ACEs study.

I continue to share this information across Hertfordshire and am deeply concerned that technological advancement could be another ACE, if it’s not considered emotional neglect.

My work with Readit2 contained offerings of parental workshops on how to help children with their early literacy. I was the keynote speaker 3 years in a row at the annual Herts Childminders conference, and have delivered Keynotes regularly to the Nursery Schools conference.

I have worked with a local Home schooling group helping children to develop their creativity and alongside literacy.

As a Waldon therapist, I utilise neurologist, Dr. Geoffrey Waldon's educational approach based on the understanding that children's early comprehension comes from their initial movements. This method not only helps atypical children fill in their developmental gaps but also aids adults in releasing stress.

My volunteering experiences and memberships of various UK Government All Party Parliamentary Groups have further broadened my understanding of early years education.

I have (and had) memberships in the following UK Government All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs):

· 1001 Critical Days Movement

· The Foundation Years

· Adverse Childhood Experiences

· Nursery Schools

• I recently returned from Hong Kong, where I delivered training on the impact of screens on young children's development. 
  

• I am mid-way through a series of training programmes in Kuwait on the dangers of screen over-exposure on young children’s development.
  

• I am collaborating with colleagues in Egypt and have worked with families to support them as they remove screens from their children.
  

• I support the French Collectif surexposition ecrans  advocating for a societal reduction in screen exposure for the youngest of children. They have lobbied President Macron – let’s get together and create a movement 
  

• I was commissioned to write the panel board on Early Reading, for the French organisation Ensemble pour L’education de la Petite Enfance. 

I am a published children’s author, London Bus Number 38, and I co-wrote ‘WRITE AROUND – Harper Collins’, a curriculum resource for teachers supporting writing in the role play area. 

I have written many educational articles over the last 40 years – including this one in the Frank Magazine – The Nature of Learning 

My philosophy for life, and as an educator, is now based upon kindness, relationships, and being present in the moment. Experience has taught me the importance of listening, of slowing down, and ‘being present in the moment... especially when it comes to children.  

It’s then that the magic happens. As connection, understanding and exploration (through first-hand experience, not a second hand experience through a screen) is what children are searching for. Like many of us, they are trying to understand the world into which they have been born.  

So, throw in a few dollops of kindness, of joy and humour (children really do love that) and children will flourish and grow into loving humans at home and at school. 

My extensive experience of volunteering with a wide range of national socially based charities, (local pre-school, PTA of my children’s school, school Governor of 3 schools) has enhanced my understanding that what happens in the earliest years really does matter. I have worked/volunteered with the following national charities: Crisis, the Wave Trust, What About the Children and locally, Codicote Food Bank.

I have been on a journey of self-discovery and am full of gratitude for each and every day. Finding time to be free from technology, still, and close to nature helps to grow strong emotional well-being. I arrange days and short retreats to those in need of a break from the fast pace of todays technologically driven world in the countryside.