If your child never comes home from middle school upset because a peer teased him, he'll have had a rare middle school experience indeed. Middle schoolers can be cruel, and learning to deal with that is important. For example, your child might:
- Practice standing up for himself. It's hard to be teased without getting visibly angry or sad. But these emotions are exactly what the teaser hopes to see. Instead, have your child practice looking someone in the eye and saying something like, "You can talk, but I don't have to listen." Then your child should walk away.
- Choose friends carefully. Not everyone is a teaser. In fact, most kids look down on those who pick on others. Sticking with a couple of supportive friends should protect your child from some of the meanness.
- Be a friend. Sometimes kids who get teased turn around and tease others. Let your child know you won't tolerate that. Being kind and friendly will eventually earn him a lot of respect. If these ideas don't seem to be helping your child deal with teasing, talk with his teacher to see if you can resolve the problem together.
Source: Gary Fisher and Rhoda Cummings, The Survival Guide for Kids With LD, ISBN: 0-915793-18-0 (Free Spirit Publishing, Inc., 1-800-735-07323, www.freespirit.com). Reprinted with permission from The Parent Institute © 2006