Bullying is a big issue in schools. We typically think of it as a problem that begins in the upper elementary grades, but a recent article in Preschool Matters, a publication of the National Institute for Early Education and Research (NIEER) shows that the behavior patterns that make a child more likely to become a victim of chronic bullying begin in early childhood.
The study finds that the biggest predictors of a child’s likelihood of being a victim of bullying are:
- displaying aggression as early as 17 months of age
- harsh, reactive parenting
- insufficient parental income
Harsh, reactive parenting seemed to be present in children who experienced a high level of chronic bullying. Aggressive children were more likely to be experiencing moderate and high levels of bullying. And parental income issues were present in all levels of bullying (low, moderate and high).
The article states:
…harsh parenting may provide a training ground for children to further develop aggressive patterns with peers, ultimately resulting in rejection from the group. Whatever the case, the findings in this study suggest intervening early with parents and children could help prevent a lifetime of victimization and disappointment.
Most anti-bullying programs target potential bullies in elementary and secondary schools. Perhaps programs targeting parents (communication skills, parenting skills, play groups, etc.) of infants and toddlers would be more effective.
Filed under: Family, Infant/Toddler | Tagged: Child Development, Early Childhood, parenting, Research, toddlers
