Is your child bullied? Does she fear being called a tattletale? Inside you’ll find 5 parenting tips to help her handle the bullies and build character too.
A Quote for Bullied Kids:
“Fear grows in darkness: if you think there’s a bogeyman around, turn on the light.” –Dorothy Thompson
If your child experiences threats, mean teasing, hitting, or kicking help her turn on the light and handle the bully.
This Social Skill Problem Comes from Dave:
Dave reports that his 8-year-old daughter is teased by bullies. Dave stated: “The problem our daughter faces is boys who tease her and push her around on the school playground at recess.”
When kids get bullied, they face a social dilemma. They don’t want to be called a tattletale. They want their classmates to like them. They want the bullying stopped.
Pretend you are Dave. Let’s say your daughter’s name is Nellie. Consider using some of the parenting tips below:
5 Parenting Tips for Handling Bullies:
First Parenting Tip ~ Make sure your child understands that nobody has the right to push, kick, or call her names.
Second Parenting Tip ~ Consider contacting the school authorities yourself. Many schools have a ‘No Bullying Policy.’ They can help. You might prefer that your child tell the playground teacher, her teacher, or the principal, first.
Third Parenting Tip ~ Suggest that your child ask her teacher to set up a ‘Bully Box’ in the classroom. This could help the class discuss their problems and thoughts about bullies like the following:
· A boy at my bus-stop calls me nasty names. He makes everybody laugh at me. What can I do?
· Why are bullies so mean?
· How can I tell on a bully without being called a tattletale?
Fourth Parenting Tip ~ Tell your child to stay with a group of friends at recess. Why? There is safety in numbers.
Fifth Parenting Tip ~ Tell your child to look and act confident, even if she doesn’t feel like it. Use role-playing with her to accomplish the ‘confident look.’ Why? Bullies like to pick on kids who look weak.
Dave’s Bullying Solution:
I asked Dave what he did to stop the bullying. He answered, “In second grade, our daughter would play on the playground after lunch. She reported that different boys would call her names, push her roughly, and tease her. We counseled her to walk away from them and tell the Lunch Moms who watched the kids. My wife emailed her teacher and the principal to alert them to the situation and things eventually calmed down.”
Congratulations, Dave! Thank you for sharing this problem with both you and your wife’s solutions. I hope this helps many worried parents help their kids handle the bullies.
Social Skills Conclusion for Dealing with Bullies:
Bullies are difficult people. Learning to deal with them now is like turning on the light. It gets rid of the fear, encourages positive action, and is an important social skill to teach your kids. It builds character without being a tattletale too.
Resource Box________________________________________________________________________________
Jean Tracy, MSS publishes a Free Parenting Newsletter. Subscribe at http://www.KidsDiscuss.com and receive 80 fun activities to share with your kids.
Treat your kids to the Social Skills Kit for Kids at http://www.kidsdiscuss.com/parent_resource_center.asp?pr_id=kd011 and watch their friendships grow.
(September 2007) (
