Teasing Trouble

Dear Parents

Discusses how many children act like both Spencer and Hallie at one time or another. But humor is tricky. What tickles one child’s funny bone may hurt another’s. Discusses how to overcome this. Topics include:

• Playing Read My Face where children are asked to name the emotions people are showing
• Invite your child to help being thoughtful for others
• Giving children chances to praise others, and praising them
• Caring for your child out loud and by expressing empathy towards their emotions
• Talk to children about when jokes are okay, and when they’re not
• It’s not okay to make jokes about peoples’ appearance, actions, or speech
• Encourage children to apologize when they make mistakes
• Teach children three steps for dealing with words or actions they don’t like
  • Count to five before saying anything back
  • Look the other child in the eye and say “Please stop!”
  • Walk away
• Use “I feel…” messages such as “I feel angry when you call me ‘four eyes'”
• Encourage children to ask the other person to stop bullying them three times before asking an adult for help
• Stand up for friends