The Age of Innocence
Pre-school children are no strangers to conflict, with fights over sharing toys, a tendency to resort to temper tantrums, and an obsession with what’s fair. Kids of this age are quick to express their emotions and aggression is often displayed openly because they are still learning what kind of behaviour is appropriate.
Physical: Hitting, kicking, biting, destroying what others have made, taking toys away from others.
Verbal: Name calling (“cry baby”), mocking, hurtful teasing or threatening.
Social: Excluding others from the group (“you can’t play with us”), friendship withdrawal (“I won’t be your friend anymore”), or damaging friendships (“I’m going to tell Ashley not to invite you to her party”).
The preschool years, before children start school full-time, gives parents more opportunities to see and address bullying episodes. As soon as you hear a hurtful comment or see bullying behaviour - whether it is during a play date or a conflict between siblings - stop and address the problem. If parents don’t step in, children will learn that bullying behaviour is okay.
“Stop, you cannot hit your brother and take his truck away.”
“Can you see how upset your friend is? Please give the truck back and apologize.”
"Thank you for sharing, I know it can be difficult sometimes to let other people play with your toys."
What are the signs your child may be being bullied, or may be bullying others?
Empower your child with these tips on how to deal with bullying.