Stop Bullying Before it Starts - Arming Our Children with Emotional Intelligence by Dr. Donna Housman

Bullying is a serious problem in today’s society, and preschoolers are not immune. Despite significant efforts to curb the problem, troubling incidents continue. It is clear that the roots of bullying can be traced to early childhood. As an administrator of an early learning program, you must take an active role in prevention.

Bullying needs to be dealt with at its origin. This process starts with educating children, parents and teachers. Our goal is to protect and empower children with the skills to stop bullying before it starts. Empowering teachers to help children develop Emotional Intelligence is the key to alleviating bullying in preschool and throughout life.

Emotional intelligence enables children to identify and understand emotions, connect emotions to behavior, and manage emotions to promote successful social interactions. Armed with the fundamentals of emotional intelligence, children have the skills that can prevent their need to bully and help protect them against aggressive and violent acts.

In this webinar, presented by Donna Houseman, a licensed psychologist for children and adults, and the Founder and President of Beginnings School in Weston, MA., you will learn:

• how emotional intelligence impacts and shapes the child’s developing brain and how these learned emotional competencies can help mitigate bullying

• how arming children with emotional intelligence can stop bullying before it starts

• what bullying is and is not

• how to identify if a child is a bully or being bullied

• how to help parents and teachers develop their own emotional intelligence and apply these skills in their interactions with children

We teach children to tie their shoes, ride their bikes, and read books. We also must teach them to become emotionally aware and competent at home and at school.