Circle time with a Persona Doll - 'Someone would not play with me'

PDF file: Download all six activities as a PDF file

4. Circle time with a Persona Doll - 'Someone would not play with me'

Learning Outcomes

• develop positive attitudes towards others whose gender, language, religion or culture, for example, are different from their own.
• form positive relationships with other children and adults.
• become aware of and respect the needs and feelings of others.
• play cooperatively, take turns and share resources.

We will know we have been successful if we

• understand that we can do things that make people sad or that make people happy.
• decide to let everyone play in our games.

Purposes of the curriculum 3-18

To enable all young people to become:

• confident individuals able to be self aware
• effective contributors able to solve problems
• responsible citizens able to understand different beliefs and cultures

• Persona Doll (or a puppet)
• A 'talking object' to be passed around the circle.
• Stickers

Time required
Anything from 10 - 15 minutes.

Method
Sit together in a circle.

Introduce the doll or puppet to the children and explain that s/he is sad.

Ask the children what makes them sad and pass around the talking object to allow each child a turn to answer.

Explain that the reason why the doll is sad is that someone refused to play with her / him. The reason could be simply that the other children didn't know her/him or you could make up a scenario that reflects current divisions within your setting.

Ask the children what the doll should do when someone won't play with him or her. When I do this, there is invariably one child who says they'd hit the other child or grab the toys off them. By using the doll, it's possible to avoid having to say that that's not acceptable behaviour. I pretend the doll is whispering to me, then explain that s/he has tried that, but the other children still didn't want to play with her/him. Repeat the ideas back about what might be good ways to get to play together, as if you're explaining to the doll: 'Did you hear that ...(name)? The children think that you could try asking nicely, or invite them to do something different, or tell a grown up (etc.) and I think they're all brilliant ideas. What do you think?' Pretend the doll is speaking to you again then tell the children that s/he will try all of those things and thinks that s/he would like to be friends with them, would they like that?

Ask the children, in a round, for ideas of what we can do to make other people happy, praising their suggestions.

Tell the children that they are all so good at being kind to other people and sharing that you would like to share your stickers with them. As you give a sticker to each child try to say something positive and personal, such as 'I liked your idea about showing new boys and girls where to find the pinnys so they can play in the water with you' or "''m sure that helping your Mummy and Daddy clear the table will make them happy, good thinking.'

During play, ensure that you reinforce this by highlighting and praising children when you see them sharing, taking turns or doing kind and helpful things for other people.

Links to Free-Play Activities
Put the doll / puppet in the nursery - at a different activity each day to encourage the children to play with her / him.

The doll could be given to children who are needing help to make friends.

Encourage the children to take turns to take the doll / puppet home. You might try giving them a disposable camera to take home with them to enable you to make an album showing the doll playing with each child and their families.

Books about Circle Time in the Early Years
Mosley, J (1996) Quality Circle Time in the Primary Classroom, LDA, Cambridge

Collins, M (2001) Circle Time for the Very Young, Lucky Duck Publishing, Bristol

To find out more about Persona Dolls and to see comments from other teachers who have used Persona Dolls, click here.

For more ideas about how to use Persona Dolls, obtain a copy of 'The Little Book of Persona Dolls' by Marilyn Bowles. This book, written by Headteacher Marilyn Bowles from Leicester, is packed with advice and ideas for all those working with children in the early years. There are superb ideas in the book for multicultural and interfaith work. It will help in promoting positive attitudes and images of different religions and beliefs. With creativity, you should be able to bring forward issues of Catholic/Protestant, Christian/Muslim, religious / secular and so on.

To purchase a copy contact:

Featherstone Education Ltd
PO Box 6350
Lutterworth
LE16 6ZA
tel: 0185 888 1212
fax: 0185 888 1360
e-mail: sales@featherstone.uk.com
website: www.featherstone.uk.com

Alternatively, to have a look at a copy before buying, contact the Centre for Education for Racial Equality in Scotland (CERES) on 0131 651 6371/6274 or e-mail: ceres@ed.ac.uk