What does a healthy digital life look like for a child? As AI and algorithm-driven content reshape our world at a dizzying pace, parents are left wondering how to keep up. In this episode, host Rob Hughes sits down with Michael Preston, Executive Director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, for a wide-ranging conversation recorded recently in Abu Dhabi.

Michael shares insights from his career at the intersection of education and technology, drawing on the foundational principles of Sesame Street—where every product is built on a "whole child" perspective. They explore what it means to design technology with kids, not just for them, and why the best feedback often comes from unexpected "aha" moments during co-design.

Join them as they tackle the big questions: How do we balance the attention economy with a child's well-being? What are the real risks and rewards of AI in education? And what is the single most important thing parents can do to navigate this new digital reality with their children? This is an essential conversation for anyone invested in shaping a future where technology serves, rather than replaces, our humanity.

AI-powered toys are no longer science fiction – they're rapidly entering our children's playrooms. But what do we really know about their impact? 

In this episode of TechTots, we're joined by Dr. Emily Goodacre, a developmental psychologist and Research Associate at the University of Cambridge, to explore the burgeoning world of AI toys.

We dig into what defines these "smart" playthings, the potential effects on children's social play, relationships, and development, and the critical questions parents should be asking. 

Dr. Goodaker shares her research, the balance between excitement and caution, and practical advice for navigating this new technological frontier. 

From cuddly AI companions to interactive storytellers, discover the opportunities, risks, and the many unknowns. Plus, stay tuned for a quick-fire round on tech utopias, dystopias, and the metaverse!

In this episode, Professor Sam Wass from the Institute for the Science of Early Years discusses how children's brains process information very differently from adults, particularly in noisy environments where they struggle to filter sounds. This ability to focus develops slowly.

A key insight is the importance of predictability and rhythm in early learning, which helps young brains form stable patterns. While we learn best with an intermediate level of predictability, young children benefit from more predictable environments as their prediction skills are still developing.

Professor Wass also raises concerns about fast-paced screen content, suggesting it might be too difficult for young brains to process and could cause stress. He advises parents to not assume that what benefits an adult brain is the same for a child's brain, highlighting the importance of repetition and appropriate pacing.

Key Takeaways:

• Children process sensory information differently to adults.

• Predictability in routines and interactions is crucial for early learning.

• Be mindful of the pace of digital content for young children.

• What's good for an adult brain isn't necessarily good for a child's.

Produced by Early Ideas Limited, who are building Tandem. 

Podcast music by Tibor Miklos. 

We think we need to talk more about tech for little people, and if it does, or doesn’t help young children to trive. So we’ve started a podcast. Listen to episode 1 now…

We think we need to talk more about tech for little people, and if it does, or doesn’t help young children to trive. So we’ve started a podcast. Listen to episode 1 now…

I was very honored to recently be invited by the Centre for Human Inspired AI at the University of Cambridge to join a panel discussion on AI and early childhood. It was a great discussusion, where we covered a large variety of issues, asking more questions than answers.