Is it common for 6 year olds to try and bully small toddlers?

[pastalady]

My DS is only 2ys 4mnths and I caught a 6/7 year old boy continually trying to intimimdate him today at this babygroup. This lad was playing with his brother really nicely - much younger than my DS, but was trying to stop my DS going on the slide, squaring up to him and then saying 'what are you staring at'. Was horrible.

Am I just being naive to expect children that much older not to try and intimidate small toddlers?

Basically, everytime my DS came anywhere near them to play, this lad would try and intimidate him and only backed off when he saw I was there.

Perhaps he was being over-protective of his little brother?

That's possible I suppose. Although my DS wasn't doing anything towards him.

i have found this happen and it's unfortunate, but i would just put it fown to testorone and inattentive parenting. i just say very firmly 'that's not nice - stop ...' i wouldn't with my first, but now i've got more i haven't got the patience toignore other naughty children!

Mmmm ... not the best behavior and I would have expected the parent or other responsible adult to step in ... but I wouldn't expect a six year old to automatically behave nicely. Some just don't.

I would have looked around for the parent first but if they were just off goodness knows where and paying no attention at all, I would certainly say something to a child that age.

Six is very young and there's no harm in giving a bit of guidance about playing nicely if there's no parent around to do it.

Something along the lines of "please don't talk to my child like that, he's much younger than you and you're scaring him" would be in order I think.

Of course if you wanted to get your social work head on you could phrase it positively "oh, you're so lovely to your little brother, don't you look after him well! Could you talk nicely to my little boy as well, I think he's got a bit scared of you"

Depends how charitable you're feeling I guess

Had to check this as saw a very similar situation myself earlier (you are not in SW London are you?). Except these boys were being horrible to everyone, charging round pushing ride-in cars into other (younger) kids, shouting "get out get out" at any child that tried to go near the ride-in cars, chasing and intimidating a small boy saying "we're going to follow you wherever you go you can't get away" etc etc.

I did eventually track down the mum / carer, who had been sitting in the corner of the play place with her tea and newspaper. I did see her talk to them and they sat with her for a while, then they were allowed back to play and did seem a bit better, but they were just plain HORRID.

My nephew (8 years) is quite unkind to ds (16months). Was "helping" with his bath last night and deliberately poured water in his face. Threw a ball at him last week and claimed he expected ds to be able to catch it. Wonder if it's a strange testosterone thing, although I do know other little boys who are really kind to ds

Not in SW London - but that sounded awful Egg. I hate it when parents let their kids do that while they have a nice sit down and everyone else is left in the awkward position of having to intervene.

Love the suggestion for 'positive' phrasing if it happens again HonoriaGlossop. Will try to remember that one.

Just hate seeing my little boys face, all confused because of another childs bullying behaviour. He has no comprehension of people being mean. Isn't it awful when you look at your toddlers innocent little face and think that its inevitable that they will have to learn what bullys other children can be.