From playgrounds and classrooms, to school buses and online, it seems there are no safe spaces for our children when it comes to bullying. In fact, one out of every five students reports being a bullying victim. Bullying can lead to childhood depression and low self-esteem, and those negative feelings can have lasting impacts, following targets into adulthood.
A recent Stop Bullying Foundation study found that approximately 25 percent of boys and 18 percent of girls ages 2 to 5 had been physically bullied in the past year. Additionally—and as what will probably come as a surprise — children as young as 12 months can begin demonstrating aggressive behavior when interacting with their peers.
Twelve months!
Fenton
While parents, teachers and caregivers can work with a child to modify bullying behavior, the act itself can best be avoided altogether with appropriate education and interpersonal relationship skills. It is vital for parents and education administrators to prioritize the development of these skills in children during their earliest developmental stages. It’s not as if technology is making life easier for parents. With the ubiquity of smartphones and popularity of social media channels like Instagram and Snapchat, technology has turned bullying into a 24/7 headache for victims and families.
During the early stages of a child’s life, they are taught how to read, catch a ball, tie their shoes, demonstrate proper manners, help around the house, share toys; abilities they will regularly use for the rest of their lives. But these aren’t the only skills required to operate in the “real world.”
Self-regulation, self-soothing and relationship-building skills are equally as important in being a productive member of society and bullying prevention.
By starting intervention and prevention initiatives earlier in the education process, we might not be able to eliminate bullying altogether, but we can reduce incidents of such activities drastically. Teaching and showing children trusted and respectful connections will continue to lay the foundation for positive interactions with peers, and that will pay major dividends as they transition from childhood to adulthood.
While educators must play their part to decrease bullying, we can’t do it alone. Parents and community members also play an integral role in stamping out bullying. Only by working together and providing critical support to our youngest citizens will we see changes in how children engage with each other.
As a community, let’s put our focus on this young age group – preschoolers – so that they never feel anxiety from being bullied.
Patrick Fenton is CEO of Rainbow Child Care Center
