Nursery World - Under pressure (2)

The word 'stress' may be over-used but playleaders do face an often complex task in helping the children in their care to cope with life's pressures, explains Andrea Clifford-Poston molly, aged 10, had had a difficult first hour in after-school club. Within ten minutes of arriving she'd argued with another girl over a packet of sweets which had led to someone pushing someone causing them to career into the drinks table.

molly, aged 10, had had a difficult first hour in after-school club. Within ten minutes of arriving she'd argued with another girl over a packet of sweets which had led to someone pushing someone causing them to career into the drinks table.

Molly felt blamed unfairly and argued over helping with the clearing up, but reluctantly began to swill apple juice round the floor in a dilatory manner. This enraged her playworker who could see the mess was increasing and there was another flare-up. And so it continued throughout the session until it came to home time when the playworkers felt Molly should really be made to 'toe the line' and do her share of going-home tasks. The more Molly protested the more insistent her playworker became. Eventually Molly grabbed her coat, spun on her heels, turning at the door to announce, 'Well, thanks for sending me home stressed'.

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