Welcome to the February 2026 publication of student articles, which serves as a platform to showcase high-quality academic work and enhance the professional aspirations of early childhood students and graduates. The successful authors are at different stages of their university journeys and are drawing on very different experiences and interests, with their work addressing diverse topics such as children's emotions, professional leadership, and digital technology. This time we present articles by Orla McAtee (University of Portsmouth), who explores how effective leadership influences quality in early years settings; Amalie Abdali (University of the West of England), who investigates children's perspectives on strategies for emotional expression; Nicole Peh (Northampton University), who examines the impact of paternal relationships on development; and Princess Souassou Tsiagbe (The London Institute of Early Years), who researches practitioner perceptions of digital technology integration. Additionally, the collection includes reflective and creative work by Elena Comber-Davies (University of Staffordshire) on professional growth and a study by Beatrice Wagstaff (Norland College) on the impact of sensory play on self-regulation.