Bullying is a very common and critical behavioral issue that may occur in some degrees in daycare and preschool. Recognizing the signs of bullying help early childhood educators will help both the bully and the child being bullied.
Recognizing a Bully in Daycare
Adults can recognize a bully by closely monitoring a child’s behavior, noticing how they are treating other children, their general disposition. Children who are abused at home have a higher risk of engaging in bullying, says noted adolescent, adult and child psychiatrist Dr. Anandhi Narasimhan.
In the case of parents who spend more than enough time on a regular basis raising their children firsthand, such parents can tell when anything is wrong with the child. When such a parent recognizes that something is not the way it should be in regard to one of their children, they don’t allow the situation to be ignored and ultimately are able to find out from discussions with the child what might be troubling them, advises Dr. Warren Seiler, child and adolescent psychiatrist and author Battling the Enemy Within: Conquering the Causes of Inner Struggle and Unhappiness [Victory Laine Publishing, 2010].
According to Sue Adair, Director of Education for The Goddard School, bullying by girls usually involves taunting, exclusion, and gossip. Bullying by boys can, and sometimes does, degenerate into physical aggression.
How to Recognize a Child is Being Bullied in Daycare
A child being bullied can be identified by several ways: “Unexplained bruises or marks on body, becoming more withdrawn, having fears of other children or school, irritability, unexplained aches and pains, sleep and appetite disturbances. A child who is being bullied is also at risk of becoming aggressive themselves, and later becoming a bully,” says Dr. Narasinmhan.
A child may also withdraw from doing things that he/she might usually enjoy. “Children who are bullied on anything other than an occasional basis are not very happy and this can be easily spotted by whoever is their caregiver if that caregiver is vigilant and concerned and dedicated to their growth and wellbeing,” says Dr. Weiler.
Even at a distance, a child who is being bullied looks to one degree or another uncomfortable. Early childhood educators should be able to recognize that something amiss might be occurring when one child is talking to another child and the child being addressed is not happy or appears afraid, etc. The bully will clearly always try to hide their activities. However, all one has to do to recognize bullying in daycare is to simply closely observe children.
Interviews with Dr. Warren Seiler, Sue Adair, and Dr. Anandhi Narasimhan were conducted in May, 2010.
Carla Snuggs - As a writer for Suite101.com since 2005, it is a privilege to continue on as theTopic Editor for the subject of Day Care. I received a ...
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