Not long ago, the idea that a preschooler could be a bully seemed crazy to me. But my outlook changed when my son Nicky was 4. A bruiser of a boy in his class would chase girls around the classroom and pinch them for fun. He frequently punched and smacked kids, and I once saw him kick a child who was playing with a wagon he wanted. The teachers spent a lot of time reprimanding this boy and explaining what "okay" behavior was, but his menacing acts continued and Nicky learned to steer clear of him.
That was just the beginning. In kindergarten, Nicky encountered a handful of kids who bothered everyone during recess. Last winter, a classmate told a girl he wanted to cut off her hair with a knife. The vice principal set up meetings with each class during which the teachers explained that every child has the right to feel safe at school.
These examples may sound extreme, but they aren't. Bullying, the act of willfully causing harm to others through verbal harassment (teasing and name-calling), physical assault (hitting, kicking, and biting), or social exclusion (intentionally rejecting a child from a group), used to be something parents didn't need to worry about until their child was a tween. Now it has trickled down to the youngest students. In fact, some research shows that tormenting has become even more common among 2- to 6-year-olds than among tweens and teens. "Young kids are mimicking the aggressive behavior they see on TV shows, in video games, and from older siblings," explains Susan Swearer, Ph.D., coauthor of Bullying Prevention & Intervention.
More on Bullying:
What do you think of this story? Tell Us.
Please confirm your comment by answering the question below and clicking "Submit Comment."
As parents in order to keep our children safe from bullying we must teach them that they deserve to be treated with respect always. And, most important, love your child and teach your child to be a loving human being, strong and secure on the inside, compassionate and caring on the outside. A person who knows he's loved does not attract bullies, he attracts friends. I would like to share this link, about a service on how you can protect your children. Check it out: http://safekidzone.com/
3/31/2012 08:57:15 AM Report AbuseThe best thing parents can do is to provide children with a supportive, safe environment that promotes their self-esteem. Help your children understand the values of friendship and trust, emphasizing those values should prevail in their day-to-day lives. And always encourage your children to tell you if they experience or witness bullying in any form. For further knowledge on how you can protect your family. Please do visit this link, it's interesting: http://SafeKidZone.com/
3/25/2012 12:54:09 PM Report AbuseCircumstances like this is inpredictable, that's why prevention is still better than cure. Thus, I would highly suggest this App that I am using a few months from now, which I'm pretty sure not only yourself could benifit but the rest of your siblings. It's a panic button that is easy installed on your smartphone and have a quick access to 911 with a Safety Neighbor program. You can check it out here http://safetrec.com/
2/27/2012 09:03:49 AM Report AbuseThank you for the learning opertunitie! knowledge is power for parents and children both.My sweet little daughter has been bullyed every year, but has gained a calm power over it.I had help from my little sister who is a child sycalogest,& school councler. loved the articals.THANKS!!
2/4/2012 04:18:15 PM Report AbuseMy son was being bullied, intentionally excluded, and subjected to racial/gender biased disciplinary action at the age of 23 months old! I observed "negative parallel play" a coined term from the emenient Pediatrician Dr. Spock, but these "people" were not punished...I was not one of these parents who sheepishly trust people because they are "professionals." My son was at these two facilities a total of 5 months, but 5 months of terror!
12/22/2011 11:24:05 AM Report AbuseI believe that children who bully are mimicking the behavior in their home, not TV or video games. I feel that the blame is always being put on something else instead of the parent/guardians. For parents who's SCHOOLS seem to ignore the bullying, you need to bypass the school and go straight to the superintendent, that is what I did to get results. Also, you need to know the state guidelines for your school district because I had the option to send my child to another school. He is happy now.
12/22/2011 10:55:08 AM Report AbuseI liked this article because bullying starts at an early age. I just wrote an article about middle school bullying on my blog for tweens girls. It is called, Crown me Queen Tween Bee (also known as 'mean girls'). It can also be used for younger kids to understand there are various ways kids bully. http://www.hellokiki.me
11/12/2011 08:37:17 AM Report AbuseMy fourth grader was bullied during recess at the beginning of this school year by another boy in his class (they've been in the same class in other grades as well). He was "playing rough" with my son, then started spitting on him. My son told the recess monitors, who in turn took the other child to the principal. He was removed from recess for several days and had to write an apology to my son. The problem now seems to be resolved.
10/14/2011 07:41:09 AM Report AbuseHere's a great link with FREE posters to STOP BULLYING! http://www.edudesigns.org/Stop_Bullying_inSchools.html
10/12/2011 03:33:21 PM Report AbuseHow about DISCIPLINE your kids ans TEACH them it isn't ok to bully. Almost always, bully's parents are bullies themselves.
10/12/2011 10:16:34 AM Report Abuseschools needs to focus on the bullies and bystanders more, not just the victims. My school personally does not.
10/12/2011 09:58:38 AM Report Abusewell my kid gets bullied alot at school by the same kid for many years now we have spoke to the parents teachers and nothing seems to work and i know one day my son will get upset and well maybe hit him and then i will be having a meeting in school for my child touching another ,my child had adha and he also has a learning dis and the other kids know this and thats why they pick on him i guess it truley makes me sad and makes my son very unhappy i hope we can inprove this prob soon ,
9/21/2011 11:21:59 PM Report AbuseI will definatelly give that website a look. ...by the way..if there are any parents who want to work from home with a LEGIT company that will pay you well without selling anything or touching inventory then I highly suggest going to www.athome4kids.awugreen.com totally awesome.
9/7/2011 05:07:02 PM Report AbuseI HAVE BEEN USING A WEB TOOL IE KIDSWEBSAFETY.INFO I GET ALERTS TO ANY BULLYING ACTIVITY AND SO MUCH MORE . I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT AS A PARENT AND AS A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL. DR. OLIVA, PODIATRIST
4/24/2011 06:54:49 AM Report AbuseMost parents are not sure where to turn when their children are being bullied OR who have children that are bullies.Charismatickid has a website dedicated to raising confident,social children.Anthony Recenello is compassionate on this subject.He has a fun and unique way in showing this in his live videos on his website Charismatickid.com.bullied. It is worth giving the site a look.
1/27/2011 09:04:36 AM Report Abuse