October is National Anti-Bullying Month here in the US, and we will be spending this week posting about bullying and persecution. We hope that you will be blessed by what you read.
Many people today think of teenagers when they think of bullying, but the truth is it’s still a problem in the elementary schoolyard. The days of the "playground bully" exchanging a bloody nose for lunch money may seem dated, but haven't really disappeared; while money doesn't usually exchange hands, they still taunt the "weird kid" the "four-eyed kid," and the "fat kid." Despite the best efforts of a teacher/monitor/aide/coach/driver, there is no possible way to see and hear every single interaction between kids, especially in places like the playground, the gym, cafeteria, or school bus. While the motives have adjusted slightly with the times, there is still the very real possibility your child may be tormented by a bully.
My daughter, who is 5 and attending kindergarten, has already brought home stories of mean, bullying behavior from her classmates. Some has been directed at her (one of her classmates apparently has something to say about her wardrobe nearly every day), and some directed at her friends (one of her classmates went home with her braided hair full of dirt).
Here is a brief video where she talks about what to do when a bully is being mean:
Bottom line: a bully is rarely a bully for no reason; children are often bullies because they've been bullied. Talk to your children, find out as much of the whole story as possible, and if a problem persists, talk to your child’s teacher. Oftentimes, your child is not alone and other parents have done the same. Explain the steps you can take with your child: avoidance, forgiveness, kindness, alerting an adult. Enrolling your child in a class for self-defense, karate, etc. may make the child feel more confident, but always be sure your child understands fighting is the very last resort.
On Friday, we will post reviews and info about books and videos for your family that talk about bullying. One way I found information was to go to the public library and search for the keyword “bully.” I hope that you also find great info for your family.
Melissa McGinnis is the Children's Ministry Director for LHF.
Many people today think of teenagers when they think of bullying, but the truth is it’s still a problem in the elementary schoolyard. The days of the "playground bully" exchanging a bloody nose for lunch money may seem dated, but haven't really disappeared; while money doesn't usually exchange hands, they still taunt the "weird kid" the "four-eyed kid," and the "fat kid." Despite the best efforts of a teacher/monitor/aide/coach/driver, there is no possible way to see and hear every single interaction between kids, especially in places like the playground, the gym, cafeteria, or school bus. While the motives have adjusted slightly with the times, there is still the very real possibility your child may be tormented by a bully.
My daughter, who is 5 and attending kindergarten, has already brought home stories of mean, bullying behavior from her classmates. Some has been directed at her (one of her classmates apparently has something to say about her wardrobe nearly every day), and some directed at her friends (one of her classmates went home with her braided hair full of dirt).
Here is a brief video where she talks about what to do when a bully is being mean:
Bottom line: a bully is rarely a bully for no reason; children are often bullies because they've been bullied. Talk to your children, find out as much of the whole story as possible, and if a problem persists, talk to your child’s teacher. Oftentimes, your child is not alone and other parents have done the same. Explain the steps you can take with your child: avoidance, forgiveness, kindness, alerting an adult. Enrolling your child in a class for self-defense, karate, etc. may make the child feel more confident, but always be sure your child understands fighting is the very last resort.
On Friday, we will post reviews and info about books and videos for your family that talk about bullying. One way I found information was to go to the public library and search for the keyword “bully.” I hope that you also find great info for your family.
Melissa McGinnis is the Children's Ministry Director for LHF.
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