Edvin leaves the toys (5a). Another child, Chris, comes towards the play area. This is noticed by Aksel. He quickly moves towards Chris and picks up the cars Chris is about to take. Chris then turns around and looks for other cars (5b). Aksel follows his glance and moves quickly in the same direction as Chris. Aksel puts his hand on them. His actions confirm the play activity with the cars as a joint activity (see 4a–c) between him and Edvin as he now protects the play material. This way of protecting the toys is a way to negotiate participation in the play through the right to
access the play materials, even though Edvin is initially not present in the play area.
However, Aksel’s actions concerning the joint activity
and the ownership of the toys are confirmed by Edvin. He quickly comes back to the toys when noticing Chris (5c). He picks up the car he was playing with and some of the others. Aksel also picks up as many cars as he can hold. This mutuality is also shown bodily when Edvin and Aksel are standing next to each other, holding the cars and looking around to see whether they missed some cars until Chris leaves the play area.
Edvin and Aksel continue with the play (6a). Aksel is about to pick up one of the cars that lies on the ground. Edvin notices this in a similar way as earlier (see 4b). However, ownership of the toys is now re-negotiated. Edvin picks up the car and the others cars (6b) lying between them (similarly to his and Aksel’s earlier actions,
see 5a–c). He looks at the researcher before continuing collecting the cars (6c). His actions illustrate knowledge of an expected way of playing that includes sharing the toys. Aksel also shows knowledge of the need of sharing the toys when doing another attempt to take the car he wants to play with (6d). Edvin improves his possibilities of holding the cars, both by using his legs and turning his back to Aksel. Their different wishes within this re-negotiation of own- ership are clear. Yet, no words are used or needed when the participants seem to share perspective on what is going on and how it can be communicated with the toys.
Aksel responds to Edvin taking the toys by lying down and crying (7a). His response communicates dissatisfaction but also calls the attention of the teacher (7b). The teacher interprets the actions as a way of communicating that something has happened, regarding the toys (7b). Aksel confirms the verbal (in his second language) and non-
verbal actions expressing this by sitting up and stops cry- ing. The teacher turns to Edvin, saying, Can Aksel have a car please? She suggests a way of solving this situation that appears as a conflict regarding ownership. She does this verbally and by pointing at the toys. At the same time she shows a possible way to deal with the right to the toys.
Edvin picks up a car he is not holding, gives it to Aksel and says This in his first language (7c). Edvin shows that he knows that he is expected to share the toys with Aksel. However, he also expresses an idea of deciding which of the cars to share. Aksel looks down without taking the car offered, indicating that this is not the particular car he wishes to play with. The teacher seems to make a similar interpretation, as evident in her taking the car and saying: No I think he wants one of those (7d). She points at the cars Edvin holds under his legs. He gives one of them to Aksel. Edvin seems to know which of the cars they are negotiating about and he does what he is expected to do—share that particular car with Aksel. Again, Aksel’s actions showing acceptance, are subtle. He takes the car and continues to play. He did not (need to) use his second language.