Learning & Development: Violent Play - Rough stuff

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A group of four-year-olds lurch towards their victim. ‘We’re zombies!’ they shriek, kicking and biting. Violence has always been part of children’s play, but today’s relative ease of access to age-inappropriate material can lead to play that adults and other children may find particularly disturbing.

Parents may be aware of the media’s influence but often feel overwhelmed by the prospect of limiting their children’s exposure to it. Early years practitioners face two separate challenges: a child’s potential exposure to inappropriate images, and managing the play that results from that exposure.

SAFEGUARDING

‘If you suspect that a child has been watching inappropriate content, it is important to have those sensitive discussions with parents,’ says Jo Baranek, lead early years adviser at the NDNA. ‘Establish what exactly they have seen and what they have just heard about – many children say they have watched something at the weekend when in fact they haven’t, but maybe their big brother has told them about it or they heard a conversation adults have had about a programme or film.’