Mean girls

My DD is not yet school age, but is already dealing with mean girls in her nursery class. She is the new kid as she just started a few weeks ago. She's been having a rough adjustment period, she will cry at drop off.

Anyway I told my DD if anyone is mean to her to tell them they are being mean and to tell the teacher. But she will just look at me and cry. Idk if there is anything else I can really do at this point besides just tell the teacher to look out for it. I'm just surprised it starts this young.

Mean girls

Is it kids really being mean or just age appropriate kids not sharing etc? My son is 3 and in pre-school and sometimes when I pick him up I see them playing and not wanting to share with other kids. And he will tell me so and so said no to me. It's part of kids learning when to share and when they don't want to and expressing themselves. I always tell him to say 'please let me know when you are done playing so I can have a turn". And crying at drop off is normal. My son has been with the same kids for three years and still sometimes cries at drop off. He stops by the time I make it down the hallway. I think you need to figure out if it's true meanness or simply just not getting her way.

Re: Mean girls

Poor thing!

I tell my kids at that age if someone is being mean, go play with someone else. At that age, “can I play with you?” does the trick. I’ve heard the teachers at our nursery use that and thought it was clever (not everyone is going to get along and to empower the kid to find someone who does).

Mean girls

My DD is 3 and I do see it starting young. I would speak with the teacher to make sure it is really happening. DD will frequently say she has no friends and doesn’t play with anyone and then she’s the life of the party at drop off and pickup and clearly interacts with the other kids at parties and play dates.

If they are in fact being mean the teacher should be able to nip it in the bud.

Re: Mean girls

I'm confused. Did she tell you that kids are being mean? Did you see girls being mean? My daughter cried hysterically for two years at drop off for Pre-K but it was primarily due to separation anxiety and not wanting to leave me. Are you sure other kids are the issue and that it might not just be a phase that your daughter is going thru?

Also, at this age I tend to think that the kids are not truly mean yet. They may be testing the limits with certain behaviors but they generally aren't setting out to hurt other children's feelings. Sometimes you come across the occasional exception but there aren't many.

Re: Mean girls

Re: Mean girls

Yes sorry I should clarify. She was naming specific girls names that were mean to her.

But could be just the way kids act this age like not taking turns etc, thanks for the feedback all.