<description>&lt;p&gt;India Rakusen examines why humans cry, what tears mean and why we might want to question our ability to read the mind in the face. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Taking a look at the science and psychology behind crying, from infancy through adulthood, and how tears connect to empathy and emotional development, experts explain how crying signals helplessness, invites support, and shapes social bonds. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The programme also explores how culture, gender, and upbringing influence how we express and understand emotions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4&lt;/p&gt;</description>

India Rakusen explores the science behind crying and sadness, and the origins of empathy.

India Rakusen examines why humans cry, what tears mean and why we might want to question our ability to read the mind in the face. Taking a look at the science and psychology behind crying, from infancy through adulthood, and how tears connect to empathy and emotional development, experts explain how crying signals helplessness, invites support, and shapes social bonds. The programme also explores how culture, gender, and upbringing influence how we express and understand emotions.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-KingA Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4

5. Sadness

<description>&lt;p&gt;India Rakusen reaches the wild storm of toddler anger - once feared as fairy mischief, now often misunderstood by science and society alike. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We move from ancient changeling tales to modern myths of the “lizard brain”, unravelling how culture, gender, and language shape the way we see emotion. Could anger, so often cast as dangerous or shameful, also be a vital force - something to be named, held, and guided, not silenced. A tender look at the fire in every small soul.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Anger. In our story of toddlers it's where changelings, the lizard brain and law collide.

India Rakusen reaches the wild storm of toddler anger - once feared as fairy mischief, now often misunderstood by science and society alike. We move from ancient changeling tales to modern myths of the “lizard brain”, unravelling how culture, gender, and language shape the way we see emotion. Could anger, so often cast as dangerous or shameful, also be a vital force - something to be named, held, and guided, not silenced. A tender look at the fire in every small soul.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-KingA Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4

4. Anger

<description>&lt;p&gt;India Rakusen explores the emotion of surprise — from classic knock-knock jokes to the complex, messy business of toddler toilet training. Along the way, we hear how surprise isn’t just a fleeting reaction, but a powerful engine for learning, adaptation, and belief change. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We dive into how surprise shapes our understanding of the world, and even how diversity in early years education can offer rich, surprising moments that foster deeper learning. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This episode unpacks how moments of unpredictability - big and small - help children build resilience, challenge social assumptions, and ultimately grow. Welcome to the surprising world of… Surprise.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Surprise, from toddler jokes to toilet training — how it shapes learning and resilience.

India Rakusen explores the emotion of surprise — from classic knock-knock jokes to the complex, messy business of toddler toilet training. Along the way, we hear how surprise isn’t just a fleeting reaction, but a powerful engine for learning, adaptation, and belief change. We dive into how surprise shapes our understanding of the world, and even how diversity in early years education can offer rich, surprising moments that foster deeper learning. This episode unpacks how moments of unpredictability - big and small - help children build resilience, challenge social assumptions, and ultimately grow. Welcome to the surprising world of… Surprise.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-KingA Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4

3. Surprise

<description>&lt;p&gt;Fear shows up early in childhood - taught through cautionary tales and parental reactions. In this episode, we explore how fear shapes young minds, how it was used historically to control and protect, and what some scientists now say about where fear really lives in the brain, and what that could tell us about all emotions. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;From ancient parenting advice to cutting-edge neuroscience. A story told with scissors. Snip, snip.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Child is a Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4&lt;/p&gt;</description>

India Rakusen pays a visit to fear, where shadows shape brains and tiny minds learn.

Fear shows up early in childhood - taught through cautionary tales and parental reactions. In this episode, we explore how fear shapes young minds, how it was used historically to control and protect, and what some scientists now say about where fear really lives in the brain, and what that could tell us about all emotions. From ancient parenting advice to cutting-edge neuroscience. A story told with scissors. Snip, snip.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-KingChild is a Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4

2. Fear

<description>&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Child is a Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Child continues with the story of emotions told through the minds of toddlers.

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-KingChild is a Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4

1. Happiness

Child returns for the next chapter of the story of all of us. Delve deep into the mind of a toddler and explore how our emotions and our selves are built through life experience.

Child

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