Teach Your Child To Face Teasing
Children can be wonderful, but they can also be very cruel. To a large extent it is not all their fault: some have bad examples of learners at home. Unfortunately, these attitudes acquired within the home cause harm in other children, who do not know how to deal with them. And sometimes, we have no choice but to teach our children to overcome teasing.
The first thing to know is that children are not bad by nature. Most use teasing as a defense method, because they believe it is a (wrong) way to relate or because they imitate their parents. Some parents turn their frustrations and low self-esteem on their children, others are simply used to such attitudes and unintentionally enhance them.
As parents, many times we wish we were the ones to confront those children. Seeing our children suffer and have a hard time generates an anguish and anger that only those who experience it can describe. But it is not the right way: the child has to learn to cope with such situations.
How do I help my child cope with the teasing of others?
Listen to him
First of all, listen to what your child has to say. It may be reciprocal with another child, or it may just be a game. Analyze the situation and also ask the teachers about it. Informing yourself before you act is the key. Encourage him to tell you what he does in class and show him that he can be honest with you.
Don’t humiliate him
Many parents humiliate their children in an attempt to make them brave. They believe that by calling them cowards or whiners they will draw their strength out of weakness. And it is not so. A child does not respond to teasing like an adult, and therefore, you have to show empathy.
Teach him to ignore teasing
A good method in these situations is to ignore who is messing with them. Most of the time, children get tired of their malicious jokes not working. When that happens, they stop insisting, and even treat the child as if it never happened or nothing.
Use ingenuity
Ingenuity can be a very powerful weapon. Teach your child to respond quickly and irony, and they will notice the results in no time. Remember that it does not consist of making fun of the other, because that would be falling into the same game. Nor should you respond with violence or insults. Just let it be in a way that the mocker knows that the child is not affected by his comments.
Encourage him to make pineapple with other children
Friendships are a very good way to prevent the child from isolating himself in the face of these incidents. He will feel protected and valued and either they will stop messing with him, or he will learn not to care. In addition, there may be more children who are in the same situation. In that case it could be beneficial, because it would generate a great mutual understanding.
Watch out for danger signs
What we consider foolish may be serious. There are times when teasing unfortunately turns into bullying. In that case, the first thing to do is talk to the teachers and those in charge of the center to express your doubts. From that moment and if the situation worsens, we must report.
What if my son makes fun of others?
If it is our child who makes fun of others, we have to seriously consider why he does it. We should not generate a drama but, as mentioned before, listen to their motives. They may also be a source of teasing and need help, or they may mimic us in certain toxic behaviors. If so, not only must he change his attitude… we must too.
Explain that making fun of others is wrong. It hurts people a lot, and if it continues like this, no one will want to be friends with it. If he is kind to others, others are likely to be kind to him as well. And, of course, it must be emphasized that helping others will always make us happier than destroying them.
