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Bullying Prevention Strategies in Early Childhood Education

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Abstract

Bullying is a serious problem that affects the young children’s well being. Early childhood educators find it difficult to manage bullying in the classroom. Preschool is the first environment outside of the home setting where children encounter difficulties when they socially interact with their peers. Based on the principles of protecting and establishing a safe environment for all children, the purpose of this review is to present current empirical evidence about the nature and distinctive facet of bullying among preschool children. It defines both the concept of traditional school bullying and bullying in early childhood education, describes the social context of young children’s bullying, differentiates between bullies and victims in early childhood education, discusses the young children’s interpretations of bullying, describes the young children’s functions in bullying, and provides a rationale for the use of bully prevention programs for young children.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Teaching, Learning, Policy and Leadership, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA

    Olivia N. Saracho

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  1. Olivia N. Saracho
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Correspondence to Olivia N. Saracho.

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Saracho, O.N. Bullying Prevention Strategies in Early Childhood Education. Early Childhood Educ J 45, 453–460 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-016-0793-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-016-0793-y

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