‘It’s my playdough!’
This is a familiar cry heard in early years settings, which can often quickly lead to further disagreement, disruption and sometimes aggression. It’s perhaps more common in the aftermath of Impact of Covid-19, amongst 2 – 4‑year-olds who have missed out on opportunities to socialise.
So, what do you do?
Take the playdough away?
Move the child to somewhere else?
Tell them to stop arguing?
Falling out over playdough may not feel like a significant event to an adult, but to a child, it can trigger strong emotions and reactions.
‘It’s my playdough!’ is just one of 140 short videos in the new EEF Early Years Evidence Store. This video shows how Jayne, an experienced early years educator at Roberttown Community Preschool, is using an evidence-informed teaching approach to help young children manage their emotions.
