Show Notes
This reflective piece explores the power of Helicopter Stories to unlock children's thinking, imagination and emotional expression. Through real-life examples, it illustrates how storytelling can offer deep insight into children's inner worlds, build community, and provide an inclusive, child-centred approach where every voice is valued and every story matters.
Read the article here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/helicopter-stories-bringing-every-childs-story-to-life/
This episode is in partnership with BookedIn BookedIn is a CPD booking platform that connects organisations with verified speakers, trainers and consultants – so you can find the right fit faster, based on your brief, audience and outcomes. You can discover, compare, and manage bookings in one place – designed to help you book with more clarity and confidence. Whether you're booking CPD or are a speaker yourself, they're opening early access soon, and if you want to be first to hear when it's live, join the waiting list NOW! To find out more and sign up to the wait list visit: https://waitlist.bookedin.online/
Our 2026 conference info & tickets: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-conference-2026/
Listen to more: If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: · Stories that connect us: How books foster belonging in the early years, by Laura Henry-Allain MBE – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/stories-that-connect-us-how-books-foster-belonging-in-the-early-years-2/ · The value of storytelling, by Olivia Corbin-Phillip – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/the-value-of-storytelling/
Get in touch and share your voice: Do you have thoughts, questions or feedback? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/
Episode break down: 00:00 – Welcome and introductions 02:18 – What Helicopter Stories is and where it comes from (Vivian Gussin Paley) 04:40 – The magpie story and You can't say you can't play 06:31 – How Trisha met Vivian and their correspondence/friendship 09:04 – Why Trisha wrote the "how-to" book and the aim for global reach 10:30 – Key benefits: belonging, community, and knowing children more deeply 15:02 – Higher order thinking: representing characters without adult modelling 16:47 – Example story: "cake… house… eating…" and what acting-out reveals 18:50 – Mosaic approach / "hundred languages": communication beyond words 20:15 – Why verbatim matters & one-word stories ("Dog") 22:26 – Celebrating the poetry of children's language (Andre's story) 24:21 – When adults over-correct: protecting children's confidence as storytellers 25:36 – Challenging themes and possible disclosures: responding appropriately 28:35 – Story as processing: why storytelling can feel therapeutic 30:42 – Age range: who Helicopter Stories works for 32:04 – Getting started: practical steps, frameworks, and resources 34:03 – Growth of Helicopter Stories: where it's being used 35:10 – Closing reflections For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com
More from The Voice of Early Childhood
This article and podcast episode explore how young children develop Fundamental Movement Skills through repeated, varied experiences and attuned adult guidance. Dr Leanne Jaye highlights the balance between structured support and child‑led exploration, the impact of movement on confidence, communication and social connection, and the crucial role practitioners and caregivers play in shaping high‑quality, enjoyable movement opportunities.
Children need more than provision; they need emotionally present adults who help them feel safe, understood and valued. Drawing on his work with children with complex and neurodivergent needs, his journey as a dad, and his book More Than A Father, Opeyemi Ogunmadeko explores what emotional presence can mean for parents, carers and early childhood educators.
Apprenticeships are often viewed as an entry route for young people, but they can also provide a valuable pathway for developing and retaining existing early years staff. This article and podcast episode explore how apprenticeships can support career progression, strengthen workforce skills and help settings invest in the practitioners they already have.
What does it really mean for a child to be 'school ready', and are the expectations we place on children actually informed by evidence? Adam Marycz explores how policy, accountability and long-held assumptions can shape early childhood practice, questioning the push towards formal learning and considering how educators can keep children's development, individuality and play at the centre.
This podcast episode and article are a research-informed exploration of how outdoor environments, adult language and risk narratives shape children's agency. Drawing on the Reimagining Outdoor Learning Toolkit, we examine how educators can move beyond checklists, embrace managed risk, and create outdoor spaces where children's autonomy, confidence and curiosity can genuinely flourish.