Nursery World - Behaviour: sadness

In the hurly-burly of a busy nursery it can be difficult for staff to notice a child's sadness

Nursery aged children can experience a whole range of emotions, and like the rest of us, nearly all have occasional times of feeling sad or low. With most children such times will be transient and pass quickly, but for some children sadness can be more persistent.

How do we know when a nursery child is feeling sad? In a busy nursery, with much activity, a child's sadness may not get noticed, especially if it is manifest by quietness or withdrawal. But facial expression in some children can be very eloquent - and it is always worth paying attention to a child who looks sad or 'far away'. Underlying sadness may also be shown by frequent episodes of tears and distress, perhaps in response to events which that particular child would usually manage without difficulty.

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