It is can be very painful to see your child being bullied by other kids but it is no better a feeling when your child is the bully. It is very difficult for parents to see their child fighting, especially with peers. The worst part is when they get violent and things blow out of proportions. However, it is not absolutely unnatural for kids to fight as at this age they are very territorial in nature and their aggressive intents are yet to be tamed or socialized. This is the reason why kids at times strike out.

Even if the child is not a bully, parents must respond as at this age children experiment and learn what works and what doesn’t. So, it becomes very important to let them grow and experiment, but under constant monitoring. It isn’t that a child that is a bully likes doing it, but it is just a way of having getting things done or resolving a conflict.

It is important for parent to teach their child how to handle conflict, rather them punishing him/her for fighting. It is more about helping them understand why not to fight then telling them not to fight. Bullies often are subjected to punishments and this makes them feel like outcasts and the only way out is fighting.

At this age children tend to give out and get aggressive, but parents have to be careful that this doesn’t become a habit with them. They need to be nurtured and taught and not punished.