Episode 20: 'MENTAL HEALTH AND PLAY' with Professor Paul Ramchandani

This week on the Podcast we are delighted to welcome Professor Paul Ramchandani.  Paul is LEGO® Professor of Play in Education, Development and Learning at Cambridge University in the UK. And leads a research team investigating the role of play in children’s early development. Paul is also a practicing Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.

Paul trained as a doctor in Southampton before obtaining a degree in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He then completed training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and obtained a DPhil from Oxford University in 2005. Prior to taking up his appointment in Cambridge in January 2018, Paul led the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Group at Imperial College London.

Paul's research is focussed on early child development and he has a particular interest in how we give children the best start in life, including the prevention of emotional and behavioural difficulties. Much of this work has explored the role of fathers, as well as mothers, in children’s lives and development. 

We have a fascinating discussion with Paul around his research and he shares his wisdom on some of the best things that we can all do to help our children in their early years.

Details of the current work of the team, and recent publications can be found at the PEDAL website and the pPOD website.

Thinking of Oscar website and contact details can be found here.

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Theme Music - ‘Mountain’
–
copyright Lisa Fitzgibbon 2000
Written & performed by Lisa Fitzgibbon,
Violin Jane Griffiths

Podcast artwork thanks to The Podcast Design Experts