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Brief: Quality Preschool - a Cure for Bullying?
After the release of a study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in July 2003, linking early entry into child care (birth to age 4.5) to increases in aggression and bullying, debate has raged over whether preschool programs actually cause behavior problems in children. Recent research on bullying brings new information to the debate. Richard Tremblay, professor of pediatrics, psychiatry and psychology at the University of Montreal claims that high quality preschool programs can actually help to curb childhood bullying behavior. After two decades of research on children, juvenile delinquents and adult offenders, Professor Tremblay has developed a new theory of childhood aggression. As a result of his research, Tremblay believes that aggression is an inborn trait, starting at birth and peaking about 17 months later. From that point onward, adults in the child’s life (parents, teachers, etc.) serve as role models for appropriate behavior, teaching children how to control their impulses. However, if children don’t learn how to regulate their behavior, they will likely experience difficulties with impulse control throughout their lifetimes. According to Tremblay’s research, preschool offers a chance to help turn these children around and prevent a lifetime of behavior problems and aggression: “A high quality preschool environment can teach children ways to channel aggressive impulses in constructive ways, such as how to use words, negotiate, and get along with all those other pint-sized aggressors.” Tremblay warns it is unlikely that poor quality preschool programs will prevent bullying. In programs with low morale and high class sizes, inadequate training and compensation, teachers may never be able to teach their students how to deal with aggression. Tremblay advises creating (and funding) high quality preschool programs that are equipped to teach children how to self-regulate, rather than trying to remediate behavior problems later in life. Source: Preschool Programs Best Way to Curb Bullying. Preschool Matters, NIEER Oct/Nov 2003 http://nieer.org and www.excellence-earlychildhood.ca Facts in Action, March 2004 |
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