‘The terrible twos’: Gaining control in the nursery?

Abstract

'The terrible twos' are often described as a time of 'gaining control', usually thought of as adults asserting control over children, who learn to control themselves. However, toddlerhood is as much about children learning to take control for themselves. This paper is an attempt to detail something of the social geography in the toddler room of a Scottish nursery, considering both styles of adult control and the ways in which toddlers attempt to appropriate and reconfigure space and time for themselves. That is, the ways in which space and time are negotiated in the course of day-to-day nursery life.

Re-energising the role of vitalism theory in child development, nature orientation and research

“…This is through her identification of human and material relations, human energies and forces. Gallacher's (2005) ethnographic study also emphasises the autonomy of children in her delightful insight into an early years setting in which the children lay claim to their own space and territory almost weaving a place away from the boundaries of teacher and practitioner instruction. This excellent example is further exemplified by Corsaro (1996:432) and the notion of 'peer culture' from his research within an Italian nursery school.…”

Are There Politics in Childhood?

“…To shun from discussing politics as it happens in the world, to paraphrase Arendt (1958), is typical in studies concerning the power relations present in childhood institutions (e.g. Ploszajska, 1994;Griffiths, 1995;Hey, 1997;Hyams, 2000;Morris-Roberts, 2004;Gallacher, 2005;Van Ingen & Halas, 2006;Gallagher, 2008).…”

“…For instance, children's peer-cultural power relations, hierarchical child-adult relations, and adult's struggle over the definition of 'good childhood' are frequently brought up in childhood and youth research (e.g. Morris-Roberts, 2004;Gallacher, 2005;Forsberg & Strandell, 2007;Gallagher, 2008;Thomas, 2009). Hence it seems that whereas power relations situating in childhood(s) and children's active roles in these settings have been acknowledged and studied, children's everyday environments and agencies are yet to be fully analyzed as politics.…”

“…Dynamics and power struggles maintained and produced by the children themselves, the imbalances and hierarchies concerning child-adult relations, and the society's pressures bearing upon childhood have been explored in various contexts (e.g. Morris-Roberts, 2004;Gallacher, 2005;Forsberg & Strandell, 2007;Gallagher, 2008;Thomas, 2009).…”

“…Lesley Gallacher's (2005) article 'The terrible twos': gaining control in the nursery? presents an example of such potential.…”