The Secret Life of Five-Year-Olds returns with a new challenge that reveals an insight into how children learn the difference between right and wrong.
In the first of a new two-part series of the popular Channel 4 documentary that uses hidden cameras to capture the antics of children in a nursery, the youngsters’ moral compasses are put to the test with a game of chance.
In three teams of two the children are asked to roll a pair of dice and every time they roll double sixes they are rewarded with a single jelly bean.
But without teacher supervision the children are left to their own devices – and predictably rule breaking ensues with one little girl confessing ‘I like cheating’.
Luke H (left) and Luke B (right) were asked to play a game of chance with every double six they rolled resulting in a reward of a single jelly bean
The boys confess they may have cheated slightly even though they said it was a bad thing to do
They had to roll the die to get double sixes and then they’d be able to reward themselves with a jelly bean for each
Consultant Clinical Psychologist Doctor Elizabeth Kilbey explains the theory behind the test: ‘We want to explore how five-year-olds interpret right from wrong.
‘These children are entering a key stage in their moral development but what motivates this? And how does social and culture developments influence a child’s moral code?’
After the teacher leaves them alone it takes the first duo, Luke H and Luke B, just ninety seconds to crack before they begin manipulating the foam dice.
Luke B tried his best to be the moral enforcer, but with the influence of Luke H’s ‘cheeky’ tactics they were able to finish with nine jelly beans.
Elsa and Iris were next up and played a pretty safe game until a little over two minutes in and the girls learned how to bend the rules.
They came away with seven jelly beans, despite Elsa saying that cheating was ‘bad manners’.
But the cheeky pair soon realised how to manipulate the game and allow them more success
Young Jasmin was paired up with Ella who was unimpressed when her partner began cheating
The class had been divided in to three pairs and had to see how many double sixes they could get when rolling the dice with their prizes placed in their jars (pictured)
It took just 44 seconds for Jasmin to completely throw the rule book out of the window and upset her teammate Ella by openly picking up the dice and selecting the six.
A perturbed Ella is not impressed complaining to cameras but it doesn’t take long before she is led astray and joins in on the act.
Asked why she decided to bend the rules Jasmin says: ‘I like cheating!’
But they have to face up to accusations that something isn’t quite right when the results come in.
As all three pairs check their results with the teacher and notice that Jasmin and Ella have a remarkable 70 jelly beans, Elsa doubts this was achievable in ten minutes.
She says: ‘It is making me think that I am not believing them, really it’s impossible to get that many jelly beans in that time.’
When the results come in a rather guilty Jasmin and Ella share their prize of 70 jelly beans among the group after admitting to cheating
Under pressure from her fellow classmates and feeling guilty, Jasmin eventually admits: ‘We cheated just one time.’
Although not convinced, Jasmin attempts to gloss over the bad behaviour by sharing out the jelly beans among the group.
Educational Neuroscientist Prof. Paul Howard-Jones explains: ‘What’s been fascinating here is that all the children here have been guilty of foul play, but after a moral debate it’s Ella and Jasmin that have been found to be most accountable.
‘Consensus and discussion is really critical for us as adults when we’re setting our moral compass but we can see even at five years old there is a valuing of that common agreement.’
The Secret Lives of Five-Year-Olds airs on Tuesday 9th May on Channel 5 at 8pm
The Secret Life of Five-Year-Olds returns on Tuesday (Back Row) Cressida, Luke H, Kye, Freddie, Elsa, Ella (Middle Row) Iris, Baileigh Rae and Xander (Front Row) Luke B, Nathaniel and Jasmin