Edvin picks up another block, like the others do (3a), and tries to find a spot for it on the shelf (3b), as the teacher did together with him (2a–b). Edvin continues putting back one block at a time (3b). Soon he extends the number of blocks he is carrying to two or three (3c). He looks for the blocks in the room and finds a spot for each of them on the shelf. He repeats these new actions with the blocks until all of them are packed away on the shelf. The teacher repeats her verbal actions.
Through participation in this activity, Edvin is made aware of a new way of using the toys, from an individual use to using them in the joint activity in line with the other children. This way is called packing blocks away by the teacher. Edvin thus comes to pack the blocks away as expected by the teacher in the setting. The teacher’s praising of the actions carried out by the group now also includes Edvin’s actions with the toys.
Edvin often engages in play activities by being close to a teacher, whereas Aksel is by himself most of the time. In this practice children are offered a play area with several cars and two parking lots. Playing with the cars is one of few activities Aksel shows an interest in. When other children join the play area, he usually steps back. At the end of the observation period he continues playing even when Edvin joins the area (and Edvin joins the area even when there is no teacher there).
The children are driving a car each on one of the two parking lots (4a). They use their own cars but share the
‘platform’ in an activity where they also could use a parking lot each. Their coordinated actions are made evident through their actions in response to Aksel losing his car (4b). Aksel starts looking around. Edvin notices this. He follows Aksel’s glance and also starts looking around. He notices the car (there are several cars around them), picks it up and gives it to Aksel (4c). The fact that Edvin picks the particular car among many illustrates that
the choice of cars is not a coincidence. The children are aware of which of the cars they have chosen to play with. In other words, ownership of toys is part of the mutual activity. By recognising this (giving back the car), the children also express knowledge of how to help each other. By using the toys, they do not need to explain this verbally.