Provocations Not Working?

Angie shared something this week that really stayed with me.

She created a lovely basket of bird resources — books, cards, little figures — thoughtfully chosen to invite curiosity and care after seeing me share an idea online.
And within minutes, the birds were in pockets, shoved under cushions, torn, missing.
Books damaged. One resource fought over. Another gone entirely.

Only one child sat and truly engaged.

After 15 years in early years practice, she said:

“I’ve never had this before. I’m running out of ideas and it’s making me sad.”

This isn’t about naughty children.
And it’s not about poor practice.

It’s a really honest window into something many educators are quietly noticing.

✨ Some children are not yet ready to care for delicate, open-ended resources.
✨ Some are carrying a deep need for movement, pressure, and sensory input.
✨ Some are exploring through impulse, not intention.
✨ Some have had very little experience of slowing down with objects.

And when that’s the case, a beautiful book basket can feel overwhelming rather than inviting.

Sometimes the work isn’t about adding more invitations —
it’s about going back to basics.

• How do we care for shared things?
• What does “gentle hands” actually look and feel like?
• Do children need heavier, tougher, more robust resources right now?
• Is the environment asking for calm when their bodies are asking for movement?

There is no failure in stepping back.
No shame in simplifying.
No loss in saying: this cohort needs something different. Our role as educators is to meet the children where they’re at. That’s why we can take inspiration from what we see online but we always need to go back to what our children actually need.

If you’ve felt this too, you’re not alone 🤍
And if something that once worked suddenly doesn’t — it doesn’t mean you’ve lost your way.

It might just mean the children are asking you to walk a slightly different path with them.