Nursery World - Close encounters

The task of remaining 'professional' under the emotional pressures of nursery work with the youngest children is examined by Peter Elfer Nearly two years ago, partly in celebration of the 90th birthday of Elinor Goldschmied, I wrote an article for Nursery World about children aged under three in nursery. Many readers will be familiar with Elinor's work in nurseries, particularly heuristic play and treasure baskets. Her great achievement has been as an advocate for babies and toddlers.

Nearly two years ago, partly in celebration of the 90th birthday of Elinor Goldschmied, I wrote an article for Nursery World about children aged under three in nursery. Many readers will be familiar with Elinor's work in nurseries, particularly heuristic play and treasure baskets. Her great achievement has been as an advocate for babies and toddlers.

She has shown to a wide audience that babies are far removed from their conventional image of just crying, filling nappies, feeding and sleeping.

Her work shows the intensity of babies' capacity to engage, delight and worry adults, to scrutinise faces and to examine objects using eyes, mouth and hands with the inquiry and concentration of an apprentice scientist or artist.

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