Stop Bullying Before It Starts

"Bullying can exist when a power gap between children is not recognized and resolved with adult support.  A hurtful preschool behavior can become a pattern of bullying only when it is repeated, intense, and targeted," observes Betsy Evans in her Exchange article (May/June 2012), "What Adults Can Do to Stop Hurtful Preschool Behavior Before It Becomes a Pattern of Bullying."  At the conclusion of her article Evans offers these strategies for preventing bullying by young children:

1. Understand the difference between a pattern of bullying and predictable preschool behaviors.
   
   
2. Avoid general directives such as “Let’s all be friends” and “Be nice.”
   
   
3. Problem solve when there are conflicts or hurtful comments.
   
   
4. Set limits on any intimidating behaviors and follow up with positive interactions.
   
   
5. Recognize hurtful behaviors that are intense and repeated as a possible red flag that children need more attention to the reasons behind their behaviors and provide consistent problem-solving guidance as they learn to express their feelings constructively.
   
   
6. Eliminate bullying by adults: examine adult behaviors for the use of yelling, shaming, threatening, and/or punishing in interactions with young children.

Editor's Note: The Wednesday, June 20 EED title was incorrect.  It should have been "Defending the Early Years".  The contest for promoting ExchangeEveryDay will be announced next week.  We apologize for the confusion this error may have caused.

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