Nursery World - Ask the expert (5)

Child psychologist Jennie Lindon answers your letters about child behaviour. Q. I am a childminder and take the youngest child, who is two and a half years old, to a regular drop-in session. The children have play activities at the same time as we have a discussion group in another room. A new person has recently taken over the children's group and I am concerned that her expectations are unrealistic.

Q. I am a childminder and take the youngest child, who is two and a half years old, to a regular drop-in session. The children have play activities at the same time as we have a discussion group in another room. A new person has recently taken over the children's group and I am concerned that her expectations are unrealistic.

This week she informed me there was a problem, that the little girl snatches toys from other children. I suggested that this behaviour was not surprising, given her age, and asked how the group leader was handling the situation. I was concerned by her reply, along the lines of, 'She's got to learn to share' and 'Of course I take it off her and give it back to the other child.'

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