How to address bullying concerns at your childcare center

Most parents are always worried while sending their child into a childcare center as they feel unsecured for their little ones to cope up with a different environment, new people, new location and new friends. To add up to their worries, bullying is the most feared incidence a child experiences at his childcare center and the parents are well aware of the negative effects that might leave on the child’s mind forever. Bullying causes a tremendous amount of fear, panic and stress in young children. Generally a child who is bullied during his early developmental phase of life gets involved in drugs and abuse, criminal activities and they develop negative peer relationship.

A parent should know if the child is bullied at the childcare center if he:

1. is not willing to go to the facility
2. is whiny
3. is depressed
4. has certain unexplained injury
5. complains about headache/stomach ache without any reason
6. is unable to concentrate
7. talks about some child bothering him
8. avoids eye contact when you talk about his childcare center

If you notice any or all such signs, make sure to handle bullying concerns at the childcare center immediately by following these ways:

1. Talk to your Child: Talk to your child in a manner that he knows you are always there to help him. Make him feel confident that you are his firm support as he might feel embarrassed or frustrated while opening out to you. Once he tells you about how he is being bullied at the facility, do not judge and stay calm. Assure him that you will help him from being bullied.
2. Talk to the Teacher: As the childcare facilities are filled with kids running around and making mischief, it is hard for the teachers to see everything going around and bullies take place when teachers are not around. So talk to the teacher and let him know that children are being bullied. This will make her more vigilant and will supervise strictly.
3. Try the Open Doors: Almost all childcare facilities have open-door policy where the parent can drop in anytime for a surprise visit to keep a check on her child. Make sure you make regular sudden visits to his classroom which will keep the teachers on toes and alert against bullying incidences against your child as well as other children at the facility.
4. Schedule a meet: Meeting with the parents of the child who is bullying around is essential as it is necessary to bring to the parents notice that his child is bullying other kids at the facility. The child may be affected by domestic abuse, harmful TV series or maybe they themselves are a victim of bullying at home etc. Such parents may not agree with you or may be rude to you. However, this is much expected.
5. Make your child brave: Tell your child to handle bullying smartly and confidently. Make him brave and tell him not to get sacred as that is the main purpose of the child who is bullying. Ask him to inform a teacher about the incident and not to stand alone at isolated areas. Boost your child’s self-esteem.
6. Change his Classroom: Changing your child’s classroom can considerably reduce bullying incidents. Talk to the director of the childcare facility and request for classroom change for your child. However, if it still cannot be stopped, make sure to enroll your child to some other childcare facility.

These are legitimate concerns, as an approved and accredited childcare center in the Albany area, we work hard to minimize and remove these types of concerns.  If you have questions about how we conduct ourselves and work to prevent these types of things, please contact us.