Pregnancy
Behavior Makeover: Bullied
The situation
A boy at school is terrorizing my nine year old – that's the only way I can describe what's happening. He's broken his glasses, threatens to beat him up, trips him in the cafeteria, and calls him horrible names. My son begs to stay home from school and pleads with me not to tell his teacher, who I guess is unaware of this criminal. He says it will only make it worse, and I'm beginning to believe him. I'm heartsick. What do I do?
– Jenny, a single mom from Tampa, Florida
"There's a ten year old at camp who put my child through hell."
"My daughter is so afraid of a fourth grader in our neighborhood that she's begging us to move."
"My son can't take this anymore. I'm sending him to another school."
One of the universal dreams we parents have is that our kids will get along with others. The alarming rise in bullying has turned many of our dreams into nightmares: too many kids today are verbally, emotionally, sexually, or physically abused by other children's intentional actions. And data show that bullying is not only increasing but is far more vicious. Although we can't prevent the pain these experiences can cause, we can lessen our kids' chances of becoming victims. Studies say the best way to do that is by empowering kids with strategies to handle bullying.
More on: Behavior
Excerpted from:
From No More Misbehavin' by Michele Borba, Ed.D. Copyright © 2003 by Michele Borba. All rights reserved. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Buy the book at www.amazon.com.
