Bottling Joy in the Early Years

Bottling Joy in the Early Years is a powerful and uplifting exploration of what it truly means to create joyful, meaningful, and high-quality experiences for young children. Edited by Dr Aaron Bradbury and authored by Raj Ladva and Alys Leighton-Rahman, this book brings together authentic voices from practice to re-centre early childhood education around joy, relationships, and play. Rooted in real-life practice at King’s College International School Bangkok, Bottling Joy in the Early Years captures the richness of children’s lived experiences, where curiosity is nurtured, identities are respected, and learning is deeply connected to the world around them. Through reflective case studies, practitioner insight, and culturally responsive approaches, the book demonstrates how high expectations and joyful pedagogy are not opposites, but partners. This is not a book about doing more. It is a book about doing what matters. With a strong emphasis on belonging, play, and relational practice, it invites educators, leaders, and policymakers to rethink environments, interactions, and priorities in the early years. It offers both inspiration and challenge, encouraging the reader to slow down, notice more, and create spaces where children can truly thrive. Importantly, all proceeds from this book support the SPRING Project, reinforcing a commitment not only to children’s education, but to their protection, wellbeing, and rights globally. This is a book for anyone who believes that joy is not an add-on in early childhood education. It is the foundation.