Nursery World - Positive Relationships: Behaviour

How should you approach the idea of sharing when children seem to
be finding it difficult? Kay Mathieson provides some guidance on workable strategies and realistic expectations.

The children in our setting really find sharing very difficult and every day seems filled with squabbles and conflicts. Will they just grow out of this, is it what they learn from home, and can we do something about it or is this just the way it is in early years? One child in particular is very quarrelsome and the other children are now moving away from him when he is at an activity and not wanting to play with him.

Conflicts are an inevitable part of life and an amazing opportunity for learning. Through conflict we learn about ourselves, others and how relationships work. Conflicts for young children take a variety of different forms. Often when we first think about the children's conflicts we see stamping feet, lashing out and shouting, but there is much more to it. It can simply arise because they are not thinking the same thing in their play, and often children resolve conflict with or without verbal language.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included