ShareWe follow a typical two year old - she loves learning and exploring. She is becoming increasingly independent, wanting to do more things for herself. Sometimes she becomes overwhelmed by her feelings as she struggles with what she can and can't do.
This film gives a rounded picture of her life, at home and at nursery, throughout the whole year until her third birthday. It clearly shows the importance of good relationships with her close adults and the effects that they have on her overall development. When Ava starts nursery we see how this big transition is dealt with. The nursery employs a key person approach and we watch as she gradually forms an attachment to her key person.
She develops rapidly during this year and these steps are clearly documented. We see her playing, learning to dress herself, beginning to socialise with peers, going shopping, having tantrums and the whole range of behaviour that are part of being a two year old.
Peter Elfer (a leading researcher in nursery practice) expands on what is happening, explaining related theories on attachment, key people and development.
The film is divided into sections for ease of use:
- Introducing Ava
- Ava starts nursery: 26 mths
- Developing independence: 26-27 mths
- First full day at nursery: 27 mths
- Learning at home: 28 mths
- A feeling of belonging: 30 mths
- Playing with key person: 33 mths
- Making friends, joining in: 36 mths
The dvd also contains extra footage of the interview with Peter Elfer where he answers questions and talks of common concerns about the ‘key person’ approach.
The accompanying notes (27 pages) include background information together with questions for reflection for each section. There is also a transcript of the film commentary and a transcript of Peter Elfer’s interview about the key person approach.
73 mins.
Links to EYFS principles:
- A Unique Child: 1.1, 1.3, 1.4
- Positive relationships: 2.1, 2.3, 2.4
- Enabling Environments: 3.2, 3.3
- Learning & Development : 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4
Jennie Lindon, Early Years Specialist, and Author
Life at Two is an excellent record of a year of important early childhood. So far I am regularly using the sequence of Ava playing with the farm animals set with her mother. This is a really good way in to remind early years practitioners of the wide range of kinds of words that a just two year old can be using. The other sequence I use quite often is from the other DVD (Child Observation No. 9 - The Two Year Old) where Ava is at home with her mother, with the lovely scenes of Ava 'reading' her book, 'writing' her shopping list, going to the shops and so on.
Megan Eccleson Primary Mental Health Under 5's Specialist - Bristol
LIFE AT TWO:ATTACHMENTS, KEY PEOPLE AND DEVELOPMENT follows on beautifully from the 'Attachment in Practice' film by the same company, reviewed in the last issues of this newsletter.
Dorothy Selleck - Early Years Consultant
LIFE AT TWO is a delightful study of Ava with her family and in her nursery taken over time.
No Press.
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