Early signs of bullying behavior in preschool
Both bullying and behavior that can develop into bullying can emerge at preschool age. This behavior must not be allowed to continue in school and recreational activities, as it can have lasting effects on the mental health of children and adolescents. All workplaces within Reykjavík City's Department of Education and Youth follow an anti-bullying checklist developed through extensive consultation with professionals.
What constitutes bullying and early signs of bullying behavior?
When assessing bullying and early signs of bullying behavior among preschool children, interpersonal skills—particularly social skills and friendships—are the primary factors to consider.
Social skills involve the ability to build positive, successful relationships and communicate effectively with others. Friendship is vital to children. Having friends supports both development and well-being while helping prevent loneliness, social isolation, and bullying.
Parents who notice signs of bullying or early signs of bullying behavior—or receive information about either—should take the matter seriously and report it to the appropriate person. Workplaces of the Department of Education and Youth of Reykjavík City operate according to a bullying checklist developed in extensive consultation with professionals.
What should I do if my child has conflicts with other children?
- These issues are typically addressed at the preschool. Usually, there is no power imbalance; instead, two peers are in conflict.
- Talk to your child. Listen carefully to the child and show love and understanding.
- Speak with a school administrator, department head, or prosperity liaison at the preschool. They will look into the interpersonal difficulties. When serious interpersonal difficulties or early signs of bullying behavior arise, the school develops an action plan.
If the preschool cannot resolve the issue, including through its school problem-solving team, school administrators, parents, or both can seek support from the Department of Education and Youth (SFS) school and recreation services, which feature multidisciplinary teams of specialists.
Serious interpersonal difficulties
Keep in mind that interpersonal difficulties can lead to bullying, making it vital to teach children how to resolve disagreements and support them when they cannot do so on their own. Resolving interpersonal difficulties early can prevent many cases of bullying.
A child experiencing serious interpersonal difficulties with other children soon begins to feel distressed, fearful, insecure, lonely, and wary of peers. Confidence disappears, the child retracts and even becomes ill without visible illnesses.
Research shows that children who exhibit violent behavior towards their peers are at risk of long-term antisocial behavior. Therefore, it is necessary to guide the child towards better communication. The first step is building a positive, focused partnership with the preschool.
Who makes contact?
Parents of children experiencing interpersonal difficulties are generally advised not to contact the other child's parents to resolve the matter on their own. A school administrator or department head should oversee this process. The department head schedules a meeting with the parents, explains the situation, and seeks agreement on steps to resolve the interpersonal difficulties. The agreement is then followed up in partnership with the parents.
Friendly community
The Friendly Community project was established when preschools, primary schools, and recreational activities were brought together under one department: Reykjavík City's Department of Education and Youth. Friendly community refers to a community where everyone's conduct is characterized by respect, compassion, and responsibility. Bullying is not tolerated there, and when necessary, staff address it systematically in accordance with the preschool's anti-bullying plan and the City's policy.
