Episode 85: Making the Case for Joy in Playful Early Learning

Joy is one of those concepts that everyone understands until you try to define it. And yet, the research is remarkably clear about what it does. In this episode, we explore what joy actually is, why it matters so profoundly for young children, and what it looks like in the early childhood classroom. From the neuroscience of how joy changes the brain's chemistry and learning capacity, to the relational dimension of shared delight between children and the adults who care for them, this episode grounds joy firmly in both science and practice. If you work with young children or advocate for play-based learning, this episode will give you the research and the language to protect joy in your program — and a compelling reminder of why that work matters. Part two of a two-episode series with Episode 84 on agency. Because Play = Agency + Joy Show Notes:

You can listen to Episode 85: Making the Case for Joy in Playful Early Learning online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Episode 85: Making the Case for Joy in Playful Early Learning is an episode from Not Just Cute, the Podcast: Intentional Whole Child Development for Parents and Teachers of Young Children by Amanda Morgan.

This episode is 18:03 long.

This episode was published on Mar 19, 2026.

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