The word “bullying” is a prominent word in today’s culture. Children as young as preschool age are hearing this word used but do they really know what it means? Do they really know what bullies look like or how they act?
My 5-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son are terrified of bullies. They have heard this term from others (not from my husband or me), perhaps from television shows, peers, and school.
Photo credit: Tricia Kelly (http://www.triciakelly.net/)
Regardless of the education my children are getting about being kind and dealing with their own emotions, they perceive this “bully thing” as a monster or mystical creature of some sorts. This concerns me because it seems like such a foreign concept and so removed from them that I don’t think they realize that anyone can bully and anyone can be bullied.
Children need to understand that bullying happens when another person makes a bad choice by being unkind to others over and over again. Ultimately, everyone has the ability to be a bully since we are all able to make good and bad choices.
I believe this information is vitally important for children to learn because they need to be accountable for their own actions. They need to know that when they say or do something unkind to others, they are at risk of bullying.
We need to mainstream the concept of bullying so that young children who are just learning about it can indentify with what it is about. They can understand that it involves a person who is unkind, not some mystical creature.
All human beings need to be conscious of how they interact with others, and how those interactions impact others. With summer soon approaching, I worry about children at summer camps. They are usually being guided my teenagers and young adults who also struggle with bullying issues.
This is why I created my training called Prevent Bullying at Camp, which guides camp counselors in how to model an emotionally safe environment for campers. Counselors may not realize that they set the tone from day one regarding what are acceptable behaviors and interactions. I now offer this training in DVD format so that people all around the world can have access to it. It includes a full keynote presentation and my personal voice-over of in depth explanations, tips, and stories. You can learn more about this DVD here. Check it out today.
I appreciate you reading my blog. Be sure to check back next week for the next blog in my bullying series, Labeling Bullies is Like Labeling a Child as a Permanent Mistake Maker. Please leave your feedback or questions in the comments area below. We would love to hear what you think!
