Preventing Bullying in Early Childhood: Practical Guide
Effective Strategies for Parents and Educators in Early Childhood Education
By Arturo Vargas
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Synopsis
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From the chapter «Introduction to Bullying»
Bullying in early childhood is one of the most silent challenges faced by educational and family communities. Although it is often associated with older school ages, bullying behaviors begin to appear in the first years of life, when children start interacting in groups. This chapter introduces the fundamental concepts for understanding what bullying in early childhood is, why it is essential to prevent it from an early age, and the specific role that parents and educators must assume.
Bullying is defined as aggressive behavior repeated over time that involves a power imbalance between the aggressor and the victim. In early childhood (ages 0 to 6), this imbalance is not always expressed through physical force or sophisticated verbal means, but through actions such as systematically excluding a peer from play, repeatedly taking objects, mocking imitation, or consistently ignoring another child’s emotional needs.
Unlike isolated conflicts that are part of normal development, bullying is characterized by three key elements: Repetition: the behavior continues over days or weeks. Intentionality: there is a deliberate intent to cause harm or distress. Power imbalance: the child who is targeted has fewer resources to defend themselves.
A common example in early childhood classrooms is the child who, every day during recess, pushes another child out of the block-building group and says, “You can’t play here because you’re slow.” Although it may seem like play, the repetition and exclusion have a real impact on the excluded child’s self-esteem.
In early childhood, manifestations of bullying tend to be more subtle than in primary school. Children are still developing language and emotional regulation, so bullying often appears through gestures, looks, shoves, or the appropriation of toys. Studies in educational settings show that between 10% and 15% of children aged 3 to 6 have experienced some form of repeated exclusion or intentional physical aggression.
It is important to differentiate these behaviors from typical age-related actions. An isolated shove over a desired toy does not constitute bullying. […]
Table of contents
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Introduction to Bullying
- What is bullying?
- Statistics and consequences
- The Role of Parents and Educators
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Fostering Empathy
- Empathy Exercises
- The importance of emotional communication
- Group activities to foster inclusion
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Identifying Signs of Harassment
- Visible and Hidden Signals
- Understanding the Aggressor's Behavior
- Evaluation of the school environment
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Mediation and Conflict Resolution
- Mediation Techniques
- Creating an action protocol
- Promoting the Peaceful Resolution of Conflicts
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Building Secure Environments
- Inclusion Policies in the Classroom
- The role of the educational community
- Monitoring and Evaluation of Emotional Well-being
