Nursery World - Dough respect

As a tutor and NVQ assessor, I spend a lot of my time trying to explain to nursery workers that dough is a three-dimensional material and should not be flattened with rolling pins. I also try to explain, over and over again, that children are capable, and should be encouraged, to make their own shapes and not to use cutters. I am absolutely hopping mad to read Lena Engel's advice to 'provide enough cutters and rolling pins' ('Hand crafted', 24 May). I was also a bit concerned about the 'small balls' of dough she advises we provide - I usually recommend a lump as big as a child's head because I hate to see children fiddling with tiddly bits of dough.

I am absolutely hopping mad to read Lena Engel's advice to 'provide enough cutters and rolling pins' ('Hand crafted', 24 May). I was also a bit concerned about the 'small balls' of dough she advises we provide - I usually recommend a lump as big as a child's head because I hate to see children fiddling with tiddly bits of dough.

I do, however, welcome the rest of the ideas in the feature. Encouraging children and nursery nurses to focus on the process of creativity rather than 'making something nice to put on the wall' is very helpful. As Lena herself says, 'Children's creativity is stifled if they are given pre-cut shapes.' The same goes for playdough.

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