A girlfriend of mine has a four year old daughter who has attended childcare since she was 12 months old. Her child is quiet, often anxious and has always suffered from separation anxiety.
Over the past 12 months her daughter regressed. She was having nightmares and displaying fear of having to go to childcare. It turned out that she had a genuine fear of two other children in the centre who were 'mean' to her. There did not appear to be any physical bullying taking place, just some four-year-old domination in different activites and a lot of nasty remarks such as 'your freckles are ugly' 'your not our friend' 'you cant draw' and so on. Bullying schools is a great concern - even at such a young age.
Although this type of bullying behaviour might be brushed off by a more confident child, my friend's child was seriously affected by the bullying incidents. Despite her attempts to work with the childcare centre staff on rectifying the bullying behaviour, there was minimal concern or action taken. The bullying behaviour was seen as typical 3-4year old behaviour and her child simply labelled 'over sensitive'.
Not being prepared to wait for futher improvement, my friend removed her child from the centre and enrolled her in a different preschool where she is slowly settling in and adjusting to the change. She has not yet made any close friends, but she no longer has nightmares and no longer cries when she is dropped off at preschool for the day. She is on her way to becomming school ready and my friend is certainly pleased with her decision. Saying no to bullying schools has worked for her child.
I wonder, however, what would have happened if her poor child was the victim of bullying at the new preschool, and what would happen if the same thing occurs when she goes to primaryschool. How many times should a child be moved around to avoid bullying behaviour and when should a parent force a teacher to take action?
Did my friend make the right choice for her child? Or should she have persisted in trying to get action from the childcare workers? What would you do if you were in her situation?
Say no to bullying schools!
Over the past 12 months her daughter regressed. She was having nightmares and displaying fear of having to go to childcare. It turned out that she had a genuine fear of two other children in the centre who were 'mean' to her. There did not appear to be any physical bullying taking place, just some four-year-old domination in different activites and a lot of nasty remarks such as 'your freckles are ugly' 'your not our friend' 'you cant draw' and so on. Bullying schools is a great concern - even at such a young age.
Although this type of bullying behaviour might be brushed off by a more confident child, my friend's child was seriously affected by the bullying incidents. Despite her attempts to work with the childcare centre staff on rectifying the bullying behaviour, there was minimal concern or action taken. The bullying behaviour was seen as typical 3-4year old behaviour and her child simply labelled 'over sensitive'.
Not being prepared to wait for futher improvement, my friend removed her child from the centre and enrolled her in a different preschool where she is slowly settling in and adjusting to the change. She has not yet made any close friends, but she no longer has nightmares and no longer cries when she is dropped off at preschool for the day. She is on her way to becomming school ready and my friend is certainly pleased with her decision. Saying no to bullying schools has worked for her child.
I wonder, however, what would have happened if her poor child was the victim of bullying at the new preschool, and what would happen if the same thing occurs when she goes to primaryschool. How many times should a child be moved around to avoid bullying behaviour and when should a parent force a teacher to take action?
Did my friend make the right choice for her child? Or should she have persisted in trying to get action from the childcare workers? What would you do if you were in her situation?
Say no to bullying schools!
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