PENELOPE LEACH | World's Leading Parenting Guru, Baby Researcher and Author of Your Baby & Child

Penelope Leach is one of the few practitioners in child mental health who has been able to communicate what she knows to parents. In this interview with Jane O’Rourke for MINDinMIND, she shares how has she done this and what in her 50 years of research has she found most helps children & families?


Dr Penelope Leach is one of the world's most respected and best-loved experts on infant development. Her work over the last five decades has influenced government policy and generations of parents. Her book 'Your Baby & Child’ has sold over three million copies and has become a parenting bible for new parents.

Penelope has been a passionate campaigner for baby and children's rights. In this Live Legacy interview for MINDinMIND, she discusses with Jane O'Rourke:

Key ideas drawn from her extensive research on what enhances young children's emotional development. What is necessary for their development to be optimal?

How can families be best supported to give babies the best start at home and in childcare?

She explains why the 'Baby Blindspot' in government and local services means the needs of under 3's are being neglected. You can read her blog on MINDinMIND about this https://mindinmind.org.uk/thought-pie...

Penelope has been a powerful influence in child professional organisations. We are delighted leading practitioners and colleagues joined us to honour Penelope Leach's huge contribution to the field of infant mental health:

Dilys Daws (also a legacy interviewee https://mindinmind.org.uk/interviews/..., Sebastian Kraemer and Robin Balbernie discuss their work with Penelope advancing our understanding of infant mental health in organisations such as the Association of Infant Mental Health.

Professor Jacqueline Barnes discusses with Penelope their research on childcare, one of the largest projects in the world ever undertaken.

Dr Graham Music talks about the influence Penelope has on parents and their babies around the world.

Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance & Theresa Johnson from Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years talks about the powerful influence Penelope has had on promoting the importance of Early Years professionals such as Child Minders and Nursery Workers.

In this interview, Jane O'Rourke, the founder of MINDinMIND, also asked Penelope about her work and reflects on the personal experiences and motivations that drive her research with children & families.

See also Penelope's Thought Piece for MINDinMIND on the crucial first two years of life and why babies cannot continue to be ignored by the government if we are to ‘build better’ after the pandemic.

https://mindinmind.org.uk/thought-pie...

This recording is free to access so anyone working with or caring for children can learn from the wisest minds in child mental health. For more information about MINDinMIND and to make a donation, visit our website https://mindinmind.org.uk/

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Recorded July 2021