Nursery World - You've got males

Boys will be boys, and thank goodness, says Andrea Clifford-Poston. But how can play leaders deal with play fighting that becomes aggressive? Here she shows how to understand what lies behind that male swagger Aged 11, Sam had learnt to swagger. He had perfected swaggering, his head held high, chin jutting, his face gleaming with self-satisfaction. He swaggered into after-school club, hands in pockets, arms akimbo, hips swinging as he approached a group of children already involved in activities. As he reached his best friend in the group, he thumped him hard on the back with his elbow (though without removing his hands from his pockets). His friend responded with a sharp backward kick on the shin - almost at once two play leaders marched over and pounced on Sam, aggressively reprimanding him for being aggressive.

Aged 11, Sam had learnt to swagger. He had perfected swaggering, his head held high, chin jutting, his face gleaming with self-satisfaction. He swaggered into after-school club, hands in pockets, arms akimbo, hips swinging as he approached a group of children already involved in activities. As he reached his best friend in the group, he thumped him hard on the back with his elbow (though without removing his hands from his pockets). His friend responded with a sharp backward kick on the shin - almost at once two play leaders marched over and pounced on Sam, aggressively reprimanding him for being aggressive.

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