Posted by D's Mom on May 30, 2001 at 20:20:56:
In Reply to: 7 year old hits-responding to taunting posted by M's mom on May 30, 2001 at 13:34:53:
My son has been on the receiving end of taunting and bullying. He has also dished it out, feeling that what was done to him was okay to do to others. He found out differently. I have found that the child who is doing the bullying is trying to make himself feel better or like a bigshot in the eyes of the other kids. He is seeking attention and the only way he knows how to get it is by drawing negative attention to himself. Explain to your son that the kid who is mean probably has some problems he can't deal with and is acting out just to get any kind of attention. I know it is a lot for your son to understand, but it might keep him from lashing out inappropriately. The teacher needs to be reminded of the situation, that you are aware, and ask her if she can try to keep the boys apart. Ask her what you can do to help. It will be hard for her, but it would make her classroom easier to deal with. With 3 weeks of school left, the children are probably anxious for summer and all of them are tired of school. Tempers do tend to flare as summer approaches. I hope this helps some. Earlier this year, my son was bullied, and ended up bullying another. He got in trouble and now he and the child he was mean to are friends. Stranger things have happened!