Can bullying happen at 3?

2under3inkent · 2023-10-02T16:11:19+00:00

Im worried my 3 year old is being bullied at nursery. Do children have the mental capacity to bully at this age?

Prinnny · 02/10/2023 17:13

No, I don’t think 3yr olds have the mental capacity to ‘bully’.

Hellocatshome · 02/10/2023 17:13

They have the ability to do unkind things and be taught the difference between being unkind and being kind. What do you think the child is doing and what are the nursery doing about it?

Ilovemydoggie · 02/10/2023 17:19

I think a 3 year old’s behaviour can be bullying if persistently unkind and targeted at a specific DC. But obviously a 3 year old has very limited understanding of the effects of their actions and needs adult intervention and guidance to change the behaviour.

Original poster

2under3inkent · 02/10/2023 17:24

Hellocatshome · 02/10/2023 17:13

They have the ability to do unkind things and be taught the difference between being unkind and being kind. What do you think the child is doing and what are the nursery doing about it?

My son is repeatedly coming home saying hes been pushed and hit by the same child. Nursery are saying each day at pick up "hes had a great day, been totally fine" but hes always got new bruises.

OP posts:

Hellocatshome · 02/10/2023 17:28

2under3inkent · 02/10/2023 17:24

My son is repeatedly coming home saying hes been pushed and hit by the same child. Nursery are saying each day at pick up "hes had a great day, been totally fine" but hes always got new bruises.

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Have you raised it with nursery that your DS is always saying this child is hurting him? They can't do anything about it if they don't know. Also what a 3 year old thinks is happening and what is actually happening are not always the same thing. So it would be good for them to keep a special eye outbon their interacted let you know their views. As for the bruises an active 3 year old generally has quite a few bruises I had to fill in the accident book on a daily basis at that age.

Original poster

2under3inkent · 02/10/2023 17:48

Hellocatshome · 02/10/2023 17:28

Have you raised it with nursery that your DS is always saying this child is hurting him? They can't do anything about it if they don't know. Also what a 3 year old thinks is happening and what is actually happening are not always the same thing. So it would be good for them to keep a special eye outbon their interacted let you know their views. As for the bruises an active 3 year old generally has quite a few bruises I had to fill in the accident book on a daily basis at that age.

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Yes I have and each time theyve apparently not witnessed anything. My son the previous year also came out with a black eye and an obvious bite mark and they didnt see that either 🙄

OP posts:

Hellocatshome · 02/10/2023 18:00

2under3inkent · 02/10/2023 17:48

Yes I have and each time theyve apparently not witnessed anything. My son the previous year also came out with a black eye and an obvious bite mark and they didnt see that either 🙄

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I wouldn't say that's that unusual to be honest. My 3 year old managed somehow to roll one of those Little Tykes cars cimpwtely onto its roof with him inside it and no one saw that either. At 3 the ratios aren't that high and they dont have eyes in the back of their heads. That said if you have raised it and they aren't keeping a special eye on their interactions or engineering it so that they are both busy doing things separate to each other that isn't great.

enozgninraelcbb · 08/10/2023 20:16

I think at 3 years old some kids are capable of doing mean things to others.

They might not recognise it as that but it can be the start sadly.

It`s very bad the pre-school isn't noticing bruising etc ?

BodenCardiganNot · 08/10/2023 20:18

Are you otherwise happy with the nursery and the care they give? To be honest they seem quite lax. Is your son happy to go in every day?