Guest guest Posted October 1, 2010 Report Share Posted October 1, 2010 When your kid's the bully Parenting.com By Rosemary Black, Parenting * If your child is a bully, it may mean that he's in a self-esteem slump * Preteens bully others because they don't feel like they're in control over their own lives * When something bad happens to your kid, hurting another child can make him feel empowered Bullying is in our schools, and now it's online. Why do kids do it? What can be done to put an end to it? Don't miss an " AC360° " special report in collaboration with Cartoon Network: " Stop Bullying: Speak Up, " starting Monday night at 10 ET on CNN. (Parenting.com) -- It's hard enough to learn that your child is being bullied -- but what do you do if he's the culprit? Getting that phone call from a teacher or another parent is shocking -- and embarrassing -- but it doesn't mean you've raised a " bad kid. " It may mean, though, that your child's in a self-esteem slump. Have you been told your child is a bully? Preteens often bully others because they don't feel like they're in charge of their lives, says pediatrician Harvey Karp, M.D., author of " The Happiest Baby on the Block. " Parenting.com: How to handle preschool bullies When something bad happens that your kid can't control -- say, he loses a loved one or is ignored by a friend -- hurting another child can empower him and restore his confidence. But that's no excuse for bad behavior. As soon as you hear that your child's been bullying someone: Confront him. " Say, 'Just as I wouldn't let anyone hurt you, I won't tolerate you hurting anyone else,' " advises Karp. Parenting.com: Teach your child to handle anger Find out what's going on at school. If his home life hasn't changed, ask him how his classmates are treating him. You might learn he's struggling to make and keep friends or that his friends are pressuring him to pick on another child. Remind him to say no whenever his friends want him to do something that could get him in trouble. Parenting.com: 5 tantrum stoppers that work Right the wrong. Come up with ways your child can make his victim feel better, like apologizing in a letter or inviting him for a playdate. Copyright 2010 The Parenting Group Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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