Reassure preschool children that their feelings of frustration are natural and that learning new responses restores their control over feelings the bully controlled. A victim's tears, anger and despair can empower the bully and become linked to a chain of inappropriate behaviors. Preschool children can practice not responding to the bully and walking away to break the chain.
Teach preschool children social skills with demonstrations, puppet dramatizations and illustrated stories. Wide variability exists in emerging social skills among young children who struggle to apply concepts such as taking turns, accepting diversity, coping with rejection and communicating effectively. Teach one skill at a time, allow the children to practice the skill and apply the skill in a hypothetical scenario.
Teach preschool children assertive behavior skills. Demonstrate the difference between assertive behavior, such as refusing another child's demands, and aggressive intimidation, exemplified by causing physical harm to a child. Use dramatizations and puppets to let children demonstrate assertive behavior skills.
Let preschool children practice social problem-solving skills for verbal, physical and indirect bullying problems. Preschool children need many opportunities to practice thinking of solutions and predicting consequences for their choices. For example, identify a specific example of discrimination, such as girls being banned from an activity at recess. Ask the children to create appropriate responses to the discrimination, such as telling the bully that everyone can participate in the activity and imagine the outcomes.
Teach preschool children that reporting bullying is not tattling. Emphasize that children need adults to intervene immediately when other children or adults hurt or threaten to hurt a child. Reiterate that bullying is unacceptable and inappropriate.