Really? At four and five years old? Yes, unfortunately, it is a reality today. Caroline Presno, Ed. D, talks about relational aggression in her article, Four-year-old-mean girls, really? in Psychology Today.
Relational aggression is a real thing and yes, it is real at four years old. I have seen it. The group of three or four preschool girls are gathered at the outdoor playhouse, on the playground, pretending to run a beauty shop when girl or boy, also preschool age, approaches to play too. The girl or couple of girls "in charge" say, "no you can't play with us. You don't have nice hair. Maybe you should go play somewhere else." This rejection is a way that makes them (said mean girl/boy) feel in charge, important and better than their peers.
It is wildly annoying and, as a teacher and mother myself, heart breakingly sad to see. So, how do you put a stop to it? And how do you approach and change the behavior if it is, indeed, your own child? Below are some helpful links for teachers and parents. There are a variety of ways to stop this bully behavior but, it HAS to be addressed and that IS the KEY!
https://www.popsugar.com/moms/4-Tips-Dealing-Mean-Girls-Preschool-27333005
https://www.parenting.com/article/how-to-handle-preschool-bullies
https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/04/06/mean-girls-starting-earlier-even-in-preschool/
https://mom.me/kids/73153-its-true-mean-girl-problems-can-start-young-preschool/
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