Nursery World - Pure instinct

Positive ways to help a child deal with their anger and reluctance to share or get on with classmates are explored by Jenny Mosley and Ross Grogan 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.

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.

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