When a child enters preschool, he faces a new social environment. Preschool may be the first place where the child is with a teacher and children his own age instead of his parents. Negative reactions such as crying or short tempers are expected during this transition. Preschool teachers are trained to alleviate a child's stress by making preschool a welcoming and playful environment.
Unfortunately, not all children come from emotionally supportive homes. Therefore, educators are trained to identify signs of emotional abuse or neglect at home. If the child seems distant or reacts angrily to peers or teachers, he may be having problems at home. To identify such problems, the teacher should speak separately to the child and his parents as soon as possible. If physical signs, such as bruises or injuries, are consistently evident, the teacher may have to consult school administrators and contact state agencies concerning possible child abuse.
Preschool children may have emotional or psychological problems that interfere with their peer interactions. Possible signs of a psychological issue include learning problems, high aggression or an inability to socialize. Such problems may be caused by many variables, including brain chemistry, and may be unrelated to the child's home life or the parenting he receives. Before seeking psychological help for a child, teachers should rule out home issues by speaking with the child's parents.
Aggression is a common problem for children of preschool age. At this time in their development, children are increasingly egoistic, possessive, inquisitive and independent. When provided opportunities to learn and play in the preschool environment, aggressive behavior may be seen. Fighting over toys, claiming ownership of objects and aggressively questioning authority are very common behaviors in preschool children. Teachers need the energy and skills to respond to these behaviors while still allowing the children to develop their independence.