Threat and protectiveness as affective intensities: anthropomorphism and co-dependency in narrative play

Anthropomorphism, where other-than-human animals and non-living objects are imbued with human characteristics, is a common feature of children's narrative play. During narrative play, children often incorporate objects around them, infusing and embellishing them with human volitions, needs, characteristics and emotions. In this article, I draw from data generated during a naturalistic study in an early education setting and propose that anthropomorphic tendencies in children's narrative play constitute literacy practices of deeply felt and affective encounters as the body moves and feels within human and non-human assemblages. Drawing from an episode where two four-year-old boys find a beech seed mast during outdoor play, I explore how anthropomorphism of the seed led to moments where sensations of threat and protectiveness played out. These moments were accompanied by affective intensities that constituted emotional contagion conveyed by the ongoing bodily movements of the two boys as the joint endeavour took place. The ensuing discussion suggests that the tendency to make things human in narrative play is a powerful literacy practice deeply connected to how we move, feel and experience co-dependency of the human and non-human world.