Bullying in nursery!?

[numbertwo]

OK, I know two and a half is a difficult age but recently my DD has been quite reluctant to go to nursery. She has been going since she was 9 months old and has always loved it. I have always been very happy with the standards of care and everything has been working fine.

However, for the past month or so, DD has complained that another child has been pushing her, biting her and generally being nasty. It always seems to be the same child that she mentions and I have witnessed the behaviour first hand when I have gone to pick her up. I have also noticed DD moving away into a corner when the child arrives in a morning.

I have no idea whether the other child treats everyone like this or whether she has a particular thing about DD. As someone who was bullied at school I guess I am sensitive (possibly over-sensitive?) to these things but I am not sure what to do. In particular, what advice do I give to DD in terms of how she should respond to this behaviour?

Hi,
Sorry to hear you little on is having a bad time at the moment. Your right in the fact that 2 1/2 years is a very difficult time, however that does not mean your DD should have to put up with it.

Firstly have a chat with her key person or room supervisor as they should be used to dealing with issues like these. The should in my opinion (as a nursery manager) do some observations to see if there are any triggers that set off the other child (specific toy etc) and put stratagies in place to help, the time incident happen can also be telling,(if all the incidents occur at tidy up time a lack of supervision might be the problem)

In terms of helping your DD I personally would encourgae her to say NO in a very load voice if someone hurts her and tell a teacher. The nursery might suggest they work closely with both your DD and the other child on specific planned activities they both enjoy to help your DD feel less frightened of her.

Please be reassured it is normal and in general children that age are not really concious enough of their action to 'bully' it just happens to be the same child they go for is you see what I mean.

Hope it gets sorted for you

should say one not on