About this episode

The episode explores the emotional lives of toddlers, focusing on happiness and its implications for early development and parenting.

India Rakusen dives into the emotional lives of toddlers, starting with the complex and often misunderstood emotion of happiness. Through giggling games of peekaboo, insights from neuroscientists, historians, and global perspectives on parenting, the episode unpacks how toddlers experience joy and how early emotional development shapes who we become. Experts reveal the science behind brain plasticity, the importance of caregiver connection, and the myths we hold about emotions. India also explores how society pressures parents to “keep kids happy” and how that links to broader cultural ideas—like the pursuit of happiness in politics and history and challenges us to rethink what happiness really is, for our children and for ourselves. Presented by: India Rakusen. Producer: Ellie Sans Assistant Producer: Charlotte Evans-Young Executive producer: Alex Hollands Commissioning Exec: Paula McDonnell Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts Original music composed and performed by The Big Moon and Eska Mtungwazi Sound Design by Charlie Brandon-King Child is a Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4

People in this episode

Host: India Rakusen

Topics covered

• emotional development
• happiness
• parenting
• toddler experiences
• brain plasticity
• cultural perspectives

Keywords

• toddlers
• happiness
• emotions
• parenting
• neuroscience
• cultural ideas
• joy
• brain plasticity

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: BBC Radio 4, Goldhawk, The Big Moon, Eska Mtungwazi, Charlie Brandon-King

More episodes of Child

• 7. Anxiety · December 24, 2025 · 28 min
• 6. Awe · December 17, 2025 · 29 min
• 5. Sadness · December 10, 2025 · 28 min
• 4. Anger · December 3, 2025 · 28 min
• 3. Surprise · November 26, 2025 · 29 min
• 2. Fear · November 19, 2025 · 29 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Child podcast page.