| Do bullies call your child names? Does he come home | | | | Tell him to guess. |
| crying? Look inside to find out how you can strengthen | | | | Third Parenting Tip - Talk about bullies and magnets: |
| his character and deal with bullies. Anna Julia Cooper | | | | "You and the bullies are opposites. They're words are |
| once said, "Bullies are always cowards at heart and | | | | harsh. You're feelings are sensitive. Like magnets your |
| may be credited with a pretty safe instinct in scenting | | | | feelings stick to their words because opposites attract. |
| their prey. | | | | What happens when you put the same ends of two |
| Let's say your Weston, age 8, frequently comes home | | | | magnets together?" |
| in tears. The neighborhood bullies call him "baby, wimp, | | | | Weston says, "They can't stick together." |
| stupid," and other names we can't mention. Weston | | | | "That's right. Next time make sure their names don't |
| always reacts with tears. | | | | stick to you. Realize their mean words describe who |
| Bullies are cowards at heart. They have an instinct for | | | | they are and not who you are. Like a magnet, pull |
| sensitive kids. Your Weston is the perfect prey. | | | | away from them. Don't let their words touch your |
| Everyday it's the same sad merry-go-round. Your child | | | | feelings." |
| ends up disliked, picked on, and lonely. How can you | | | | Fourth Parenting Tip - Create a character building chart |
| strengthen his character? | | | | together: |
| First Parenting Tip - Ask him what names they call him: | | | | Add the words at the top of the chart, "I Ignored the |
| Respond by saying, "So they call you names. Names | | | | Bullies." Get some stars. Each time Weston comes |
| can never hurt you." Teach him the same jingle you | | | | home without crying, discuss how he did it. Then give |
| learned as a kid. | | | | him a star for his chart. |
| "Sticks and stones can break my bones but names will | | | | Fifth Parenting Tip - Count how many weeks it takes |
| never hurt me." | | | | for the bullies to find a different victim: |
| Tell him to say this to himself often and to bullies when | | | | Discuss how changing his behavior changed the bullies' |
| needed. | | | | behavior toward him. When he didn't react the way |
| Second Parenting Tip - Explain what's really happening: | | | | they expected, they looked for someone else to bully. |
| "Weston, you're on a merry-go-round. When they call | | | | Let Weston know how proud you are. |
| you names, you listen. They tease. You argue. They | | | | Conclusion - Building Character When Bullies Call Your |
| tease some more. You cry. They laugh when you run | | | | Child Names: |
| home in tears. They win because you proved they | | | | Bullies know which kids are sensitive and fun to tease. |
| were right. Would you like to get off this | | | | When you have a sensitive child you need to |
| merry-go-round?" | | | | strengthen him on the inside. He must learn how to |
| Weston says, "Yes." | | | | ignore bullies, not let mean names stick to him, and he |
| "What would happen if you didn't listen, didn't cry, and | | | | must change his own behavior. If you can help him do |
| didn't come home in tears? What would happen if you | | | | that, you'll be teaching him a valuable lesson for life. He'll |
| got off the merry-go-round?" | | | | never become someone else's easy prey. He'll be a |
| Listen to Weston's answer. If he says, "I don't know." | | | | strong person with character. |