Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Bullying, and being bullied, can start from a very young age. As adults are influential in the lives of young children it is important that we are proactive and diligent when it comes to managing it.
Click on the player above to listen to this week’s podcast episode or pop over to iTunes to listen directly from The Early Childhood Research Podcast. If you download the episode or listen through iTunes you’re managing professional development while shopping or camping!
Transcript
You can find the transcript for this episode on this previous research post 10 Ways to Combat Bullying in the Early Years. You’ll also find some recommended books for using with children and the research credits there.
Bullying: A Definition
Free Poster
Click the link to download this Bullying: What Should I Do? poster. The third point is especially important for those at-risk children who react aggressively to being bullied. If they can practice greater self-control while still young it will help prevent the victim-bully cycle.
Talking about emotions
Encouraging children to talk about their feelings, and teaching them the vocabulary they can use to express themselves, can be helpful. You might like to use this animated video of Five Little Ducks and their Feelings as a jumping off point.
There is a teaching pack available for learning about emotions using the Five Little Ducks. You can take a look at it here at my Teachers Pay Teachers store.
Previous Podcasts
- #0 The Early Childhood Research Podcast: An Introduction
- #1 Healthy Eating in Young Children
- #2 Developing Pre-Writing Skills
Leave a rating
If you enjoyed this episode please add a review and rating on iTunes. It helps others find the podcast more easily. Or, if there was a particular point that resonated with you perhaps you could share that on your Facebook page or on Twitter?
I wish you happy teaching and learning!
Hi Liz,
Nice Post! Being bullied really has serious emotional consequences too. A study in the UK found that victims were more likely to develop psychotic symptoms. Other studies also showed that they’re three times more likely to become depressed, and nine times more likely to have suicidal thoughts. And later when they reach 30, they are more likely to abuse their partners and children. So its important to deal with such situation when arise in early age.
I hadn’t heard that they’re more likely to abuse their own families, it’s an awful cycle. Yes… anything we can do to help while they’re young could help avoid a life-time of hurt for some. Thanks for your comment, Neil.
Liz, thank you for such an informative topic. I just found out my child is being bullied at school. I also just met the mother of the bully and thought I should reach out to her personally. What would you suggest?
Hi Anya,
Bullying is a difficult issue and it raises all sorts of emotions in people. It’s difficult to know how a parent will react, some are embarrassed and helpful, but others go into denial. Have you spoken to your child’s teacher about this? Although teachers can’t always talk openly when it involves another child, they may be able to give you an idea as to whether approaching the parent could be constructive. Certainly something needs to be done, but a teacher or another school worker may have a clearer understanding of the situation and be able to give you guidance as to what approach to take.