Early childhood educators' and parents' perceptions of bullying in preschool

Early childhood educators' (ECEs) and parents' perceptions of bullying may contribute to young children's (3-5 years) use of these behaviours. However, there is currently a lack of qualitative research exploring and comparing ECEs' and parents' perceptions of young children's capability to engage in bullying and the types of common bullying behaviours observed in early childhood contexts. Ninety three ECEs and seventy five parents in New Zealand responded to a set of open-ended questions about bullying in early childhood. Caregivers reported that young children are capable of engaging in bullying, however, these behaviours may not always be intentional. Some caregivers indicated that they were hesitant to label children as bullies because of the challenges discriminating between normative patterns of social development in the early years. Results are discussed in terms of practical and educational implications for ECEs and parents.