Dear Sir/Madam,
Thank you for your question.
Best regards,
As a mother, witnessing such an incident is distressing. It is natural for a mother to want to defend her child and to teach them how to respond in such a situation. As a fellow mother, I would like to share some of my views in the hope of offering new ideas.
Your child is 15 months old, a period of rapid development marked by significant growth in language and motor skills. He demonstrates a keen interest in learning through play, engaging with a range of objects and people in various forms of interaction, including verbal and physical contact.
For a child over one year old, the child is the center of the world. Everyone thinks the same as the child, and the child cannot consider the feelings of others. Of course, the child cannot perceive the mood of parents. The child does not have a strong perception of rejection from bad attitudes. This means the child will not have too many emotions such as grievances about this matter. The child may even think that this kind of interaction is also his brother playing with him. The basis for this judgment is that I have not seen the child have bad emotional expressions such as crying and fear after being rejected by his brother. This shows that the child is growing up healthily. The child will establish interpersonal relationships for himself.
It is possible that your child may experience rejection and bullying not only outside the home but also within it. For instance, if your child expresses a strong desire for something, but you, as a parent, decline for various reasons—such as safety concerns, suitability, or appropriateness—or if your child disobeys, you may respond in a stern manner. Unless the person rejecting your child speaks in a harsh tone of voice with a serious expression, your child should be able to accept rejection calmly.
Even if he was distressed at the time, he will usually forget what just happened soon after it happened. Therefore, there is no need to be concerned about him being hurt by this incident.
Additionally, as children develop an awareness of their independence at this stage, they may also experience conflicts with others at a later stage. For example, they may feel that any toy they see belongs to them, be unwilling to share their things with others, or "fight" with other children in order to get something. However, none of this is something they do on purpose; it is just a necessary stage in their growth. At the same time, a person's growth cannot be entirely smooth sailing. If parents give their children enough freedom to explore while ensuring their safety, they will be able to establish their own cognitive systems and develop their own unique interpersonal skills.
Furthermore, the original poster indicated that they were bullied at school during their own childhood due to their early arrival and status as an only child. This experience has likely instilled a sense of concern regarding this matter in them. It is understandable that a negative childhood experience can leave a lasting impression, particularly when it comes to the wellbeing of one's children. Just as our parents' generation often emphasized the importance of nutrition and basic necessities, many of us are now focused on ensuring our children have access to a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle.
Given that your child is now just over one year old, you may wish to consider teaching them how to deal with bullying at school. Your proactive approach is commendable, and I encourage you to explore the various resources available to support you in this endeavor.
I have observed on other platforms, such as TikTok, that some psychologists who have experienced bullying at school or helped bullied children have come forward to share their experiences. Additionally, there are individuals and organizations that specialize in studying bullying at school and have also made their insights available.
You may also find value in reading books or participating in anti-bullying learning programs. These can help you navigate this challenging topic while also equipping you with strategies to educate your child effectively.
From my own experience of studying and parenting, I believe that instilling self-respect, self-love, and confidence in a child is of paramount importance, regardless of future challenges. If a child does encounter difficulties that they cannot overcome independently, they will likely seek assistance from their parents or guardians, who will be prepared to provide the necessary support.
Let us discuss the incident involving your child and the approximately six-year-old boy who was discourteous in his response to your child's greeting.
"I don't want to play with him." From an adult perspective, this is perceived as impolite. However, you also stated, "I'm genuinely unhappy about it, but since the other person is also a child, I don't want to create a scene." This indicates that a child's behavior may not necessarily reflect an inherent lack of kindness but rather a natural aspect of their age.
Generally speaking, children prefer to play with older children because they find the games more creative and challenging, which greatly satisfies their curiosity about exploring the world. However, older children are less inclined to play with younger children, especially when there is a significant age difference, because they find it more difficult.
The older children of people I know do not behave in this way towards their own children. This is because the adults are familiar with each other, and if they behave in an impolite manner, it would be very embarrassing for them.
Furthermore, familiarity between the children encourages more inclusive behavior. However, it should be noted that when older children are impatient with younger ones, they may also engage in bullying behaviors.
The aforementioned observations are based on my personal experience.
You are not alone in facing these challenges. I wish you the best in navigating them.
Comments
It's tough seeing our little ones face rejection. My child also struggled with social interactions at that age. Kids can be so unpredictable in how they respond to others. I wish my kid could just enjoy playing without facing such moments. It brings back memories of my own childhood struggles. I wonder if we should teach them resilience from an early age or protect them from these experiences. Sometimes I think it's best to let kids figure things out on their own, but other times I feel like intervening is necessary. It's hard not knowing the right way to handle it when your child looks to you for guidance. How do we prepare our children for a world that isn't always kind?