Nursery World - Great expectations

'Good' is a slippery term. Sue Roffey explains how to help children understand its meanings The word 'good' has different meanings for different people. We sometimes hear parents tell their children to 'be good' as they wave goodbye and I wonder what the children make of this. Does it mean 'do as you are told', 'clear up after you', 'be friendly' or simply 'don't be a nuisance'?

The word 'good' has different meanings for different people. We sometimes hear parents tell their children to 'be good' as they wave goodbye and I wonder what the children make of this. Does it mean 'do as you are told', 'clear up after you', 'be friendly' or simply 'don't be a nuisance'?

Some children spend their earliest years in families where the values and expectations mirror those in a pre-school environment. These children will have had practice in the sort of 'being good' that is expected by the staff. Others will not, and may not understand why they get into trouble.

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