I Want To Eat You Face

I Want To Eat You Face is the opposite of Play Face.
While Play Face is open and inviting, I Want To Eat You Face shouts, “Tread carefully. I’m upset. You’re in danger.” Some of the indicators of I Want To Eat You Face include:
- Narrowed eyes
- A furrowed brow
- A Scrunched face
- Exposed teeth
- A tightly closed mouth
Children can slip from Play Face to I Want To Eat You Face when hurt, tired, hungry, or when the play scenario takes a turn not to their liking. I Want To Eat You Face may appear when:
- The soccer ball doesn’t make it into the goal.
- Rough and Tumble play gets a bit too rough and tumble.
- The block tower crashes unexpectedly.
- A playmate wants to stop mushing play dough and climb trees instead.
This facial expression is a social cue to playmates and caregivers alike that things have gone wrong and need adjusting if harmonious interaction is to resume.
Here’s a Child Care Bar and Grill episode on Play Face where we also discuss I Want To Eat You Face.
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