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