Q A four-and-a-half-year-old in reception seems very aggressive. She kicks and pulls other children's hair when she wants a toy or attention. She pulls faces and balls her hands up into fists if she is told off or challenged by another child. Unfortunately, many of the children just try to avoid her now. She seems sad and angry.
A In times long past when we lived in caves, survival depended on our ability to be constantly alert, watching the environment for signs of danger. When an emergency arose we needed to respond quickly and decisively because hesitation or delay would mean injury or death. The response we know as 'fight or flight' was absolutely essential to our safety and survival.
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
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here