Teaching your child how to handle a bully?

Last updated on: December 30, 2013 at 8:47 pm by Mary Alice

Teaching your child how to handle a bully? 2013-12-30T20:47:34-06:00 Mary Alice

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I know a child who has been picked on within a small group of boys, and I don’t have much experience with adolescent boy interactions. The boy tells me that his instinct is to hit the other kid, but he knows that is not right and that he will probably get in trouble. Someone else suggested that he not actually hit, but use his size to threaten. We joked about having younger siblings go over, including a 5 year old, and tell the kid to lay off. In the end, we helped him to identify a friend who could come along with the group, so at least the dynamic will shift if he feels like he has an ally.

In truth, I’m not sure of the best way to respond. I tend to back down from a fight, I usually think it is just not worth it, and my instinct here is to just get the child removed from the situation. I know that you can’t get switched out of every group, though, so I’d love to hear from others — how do you teach your child to respond to a bully? what do you tell a child who has been told that no one likes them? what do you do when the supervising adults involved are either oblivious or not able to do their jobs? Because you know in your heart that as much as you tell them it isn’t true, even as you give them proof that it isn’t true, you can’t make it unsaid, and those scars of childhood can add up into a hard, defensive heart.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

December 30, 2013

Prayer for Sick Children

Next Post

December 31, 2013 Holiday Meals with Company: What Worked for Us this Year

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Builders' Favorite Posts Children Education & Homeschool Food and Nutrition Health Home Organization Inside Our Inbox Keeping It Real Liturgical Seasons Marriage Miscellaneous Motherhood and Parenting Nature and the Environment NFP and Fertility Politics and Current Events Pregnancy Recipes Spiritual Life The Catholic Church Thoughts for Thursday Uncategorized

Select a Month April 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In Philippians, Paul mentions two women who need to be of the same mind. Who are they?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Lydia and Chloe Phoebe and Priscilla Euodia and Syntyche Mary and Martha