Protect Special Need kids from bullying

Angela - posted on 09/22/2010

I have to thank the Lord and my school for what they're doing for my little boy. After reading the experiences that you mom's are going through, I just cringe. I know that my son looks 'normal' but he is unable to do a lot of communication. He's 6 and is at about a 2.5-3 year old level for most things, and since physically he can keep up, he's been accepted. Also my school from day one has really and truly put the word out that Brody is "cool". He fist bumps or high 5's all the kids in school (the older kids thinks it's cool to say hi to him during each day or to give him a hug) THe school accepts and promotes this behavior and I'm in awe of how he has come out of his shell and has grown.
I hope that this can continue throughout his school life.

Michelle - posted on 09/21/2010

such a good idea. My son has ODD, ADD and he gets bullied on and off. You would never know anything is wrong with him and he is a fun loving 11 yr old, but the teasing and bullying especially by the upper class kids makes it hard on his behaior and what he knows is right and wrong. Our school is so small and they brush everything under the rug, one of those don't make waves or you are tagged negatively.

Blair - posted on 09/19/2010

I understand how you felt becasue I have had the same experience, however, you can get into a lot of trouble with the law if those children ever tell anyone that you threatened to beat them. Just and FYI :-)

Cindy - posted on 09/02/2010

I will have to forward this to his teacher! My son is in EI (Emotionally Impaired) at school, and I really think this will be a great idea, thanks! He's overly sensitive to any type of teasing, and gets so upset.

Holly - posted on 08/31/2010

I just sent Summer a link for a Time article where kids are taught kindness by interacting with a 10 yr. old brought in by her mother. This could be good for other grades too. Hope it helps.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/articl...,9171,1989122,00.html

Holly Beck author- Revenge of the Dorkoids

Holly - posted on 08/31/2010

The part I like is where the boys told you you couldn't touch them and you said Want to find out?
Of course beating them would not have been a legal option. But what they did not know won't hurt your daughter. I think that getting caught also helped stop the boys.
This is an example of how a person with more power can confront the bullies. We can't however expect children who do not have the power of an adult to confront bullies on their own. It is better to teach kids to tell, tell, tell. And to befriend kids who are bullying targets.

Daphne - posted on 08/31/2010

when my daughter was 8 she was in a day care and there were two boys that were 6 that would hit her, push her down, trip her etc. I caught them one day when I dropped her off. I looked at the two boys and said *if you ever touch her, trip her, pick on her etc. I will come and beat your ass till you can not sit down. They looked at me and said nut uhhh I couldnt touch them. I smiled my *mama bear* smile and said *do you really want to try to find out?* I tild the head of the day care what I did and let her know I was furious this had been going on. Oh and the boys never bugged megan again. Might now of been the smartest thing to of said but when I saw Megan being tripped and hitting the ground I was pissed beyound belief.

Holly - posted on 08/30/2010

for details about my Revenge of the Dorkoids Read and Draw Poster Contest for your school, go to www.dorkoids.com The info will be up end of next week or so. I will post here when it becomes available.
You are welcome to friend me and get direct info.

Holly - posted on 08/30/2010

Blair, I looked up these two sites for you. http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/freepubs/pdfs/ui... This tells what educators can do.

http://wjz.com/local/bullying.Maryland.c... This tells how bad bullying can get if it is not stopped early.

I hope these help. Holly

Holly - posted on 08/30/2010

The school is wrong. You are totally right. One of my favorite resource books is Empowering Bystanders by Stan Davis. He is a leading expert on handeling bullying. His book has everything in it that you need to learn (200 pages). It has info on school activities, there are some for Kindergarten, and has a great DVD in the back which schools can use to inform their faculty about how to deal with bullying and why. I suggest you invite the principal to watch it with you. It is 50 minutes.
What state are you in? Find out if your state is beginning any anti bullying laws, and find out what your state board of education's stand on dealing with bullying. If the state and the state board might be able to convince your school to get going.

My website, www.dorkoids.com will be up by the end of this week. and I hope to have all the read and draw poster contest info up by the end of the second week of Sept. But it is really for 3-6 grades. It would be great to take it into your school for them.
PS I am a retired Kindergarten Teacher.

get on line and search for what is bullying. Your school may not realize that repeated teasing is bullying. Get them informed. And if the school is still not cooperative, let them know your are developing a file to take into your superintendent and the school board. If that does not get their attention, then contact a lawyer. Bullying can have serious reprucussions for the targeted child, and the bully too.

Try to have some of the children who are teasing your son over to play. If you can build a relationship between your son and them, the teasing may stop. If it does not but the kids who are teasing seem to like your son well enough while at your house, then tell them nicely that their teasing is hurting your son's feelings. At their age they may not know what they are doing.

If you get Davis's book offer to do an activity that teaches one of the kindergarten social skills activities in your son's class.

Good luck to you. I will look forward to hearing how things improve for your son. Friend me on facebook.
Holly Beck

Amy - posted on 08/30/2010

I would love to know more. I have a 9 year old with ADHD/Bipolar that gets picked on and has a hard time making friends even though he is a very loving trusting child. He does not look like he has a disibility so people dont understand why he is the way he is.

Somer - posted on 08/29/2010

I would love to know more about this. My daughter is getting picked on this year in kindergarten and it is irritating the crap out of me because the school isnt doing anything about it.

Blair - posted on 08/29/2010

This is a great! My son has experienced some teasing at school. We enrolled him in Taekwondo for self defense and that helped a lot. He has more confidence and is not intimidated. Of course, he cannot use Taekwondo at school, but we enrolled him in preparation for middle school and high school. He knows he can defend himself. They do have an anti-bullying program at his elementary school but that doesn't stop the teasing. He had verbal tics in the 3rd grade but that has stopped now and the kids are more accepting of him now. He has made more friends this year.