by: sheila5 - 28-07-10 15:03
Hello, I am embarking on my BA later this year, and for my dissertation I am interested in the issue of superhero play;
So far as I can tell this is still an issue in most early years settings’, with a zero tolerance approach, would you agree with this?
Many thanks, J
by: stormgirl
Hi Sheila,
This is always a contentious issue!
We don't ban gun or superhero play in out setting, simply because it is such a common interest & the EYFS tells us we should plan from children's interests. There are so many great learning opportunities that can come from embracing the interest.
Recently we had a large group interest in Ben10, initially we had large gangs of boys running around chasing & generally fighting. We changed the planning & set up creative areas to make Ben10 watches & costumes, to make Ben10 books & role play aliens etc...
Within a few weeks we had the boys helping each other at the creative table each day to make different designs of watches, bringing in their parents to show the wall of aliens they had made to display. It has changed the way they play within the nursery and helped each of them gain confidence in the creative and literacy area.
The staff make sure to use language like "Ben10 protects children and would never hurt his friends." "Superheros are very good at listening and making good decisions! They also love helping" etc...
You might find this interesting: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2003/jul/12/schools.uk
by: sheila5
Many thanks stormgirl, I have brought the book, which i am hoping to bass my questionnair on. :)
Can I ask what sort of setting do you work in private/council?
And what part of the country is your setting based?
I am based in Lancashire and have so far, I found 1 council and 3 private nurseries, which are zero tolerant, and 1 preschool that supports superhero play.
Would really appreciate more replies, J
RE: RE: Superhero play - 29-07-10 17:36by: purepurple
Hi, I work in a private day nursery in lancs and we don't ban superhero play.
We go with the children's interests and we have had the boys wholike Spiderman which led on to spiders and insects and Ben 10 which got a lot of the boys interested in drawing pictures of the characters, especially those boys who wouldn't go near a pencil normally.
Outside, the boys love to be Ben10, Spiderman, etc. Also the girls like to play too.
by: curly
This DCSF document is useful.
http://www.ttrb.ac.uk/viewArticle2.aspx?contentId=14002
And this article in Nurseryworld:
http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/775605/Let-boys-play-guns-says-DCSF/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH
by: sheila5
Many thanks, Curly, I am planning my proposal on the DCFS document and Penny Holland’s book, we don't play with guns here. The nursery world link is fantastic.
it is good to see that many settings are following the child’s interests, however I have still seen practitioners, destroying model weapons made, with no other explanation other than 'we don’t play with guns' and recently a child brought a toy gun in for 'show and tale' it was a birthday present. The leading practitioner was like. 'Oh dear' and asked the children why they did not make/bring in toy guns, and the children all replied 'guns kill people' the poor boy all but shrivelled up. I did challenge this with the manager.
RE: RE: Superhero play - 05-08-10 09:12by: squareeyes
hi sheila5, i have just finishd my BA and i too chose this cotroversial subject. it generaly does have zero tolerance approach from most staff members but once you begin interviewing them about their understanding of the topic i'm sure you will break down their barriers to it.
many staff just go along with tradition because thier aetting has alwys done it but when they begin to think about the learning development possibilities for both genders, especially boys, their objectives change.
i found it really interesting and their is alot of research material out there to support you. good luck