A family lobby group says it is no surprise the behaviour of young children is worsening, following the release of a report which says five and six-year-olds are increasingly being stood down from school.
Last year the number of new entrants being stood down and suspended from school reached a five-year high, Fairfax Media reported.
Seventy five-year-olds and 131 six-year-olds were stood down last year, while six five-year-olds were suspended and 20 six-year-olds suspended.
Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said New Zealand had tried to bury its head in the sand on this growing problem, but the problem was only getting worse.
"There are many factors that may be contributing to these statistics including the levels of violence in the media and games, the undermining of parental and school authority, the 'rights' culture being fed to young people, and family breakdown and fatherlessness," he said.
