When other kids are mean to your kid
Podcast Parent Note, Ep. 76
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When other kids are mean to your kid: Podcast Parent Note, Ep. 76
In this week’s Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic podcast episode, Anaya wonders what to do when friends ditch her.
Here’s the link to the podcast episode, in case you missed it:
A listener expressed a surprising reaction after listening to some episodes of Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: She said she felt sad because the episodes often involved a friend behaving badly, but the solutions were about what the kid who asked the question could do.
I suppose I can see how that would be sad–why does coping fall on the shoulders of the questioner when the other kids are in the wrong?! That seems unfair! But to me, figuring out what the kid with the question might be able to do is empowering for that kid!
The underlying message is, “You have options! You are never completely powerless! You may not be able to change the situation or control what other kids do, but you can take control of how you respond!” This might involve preventing or avoiding a troublesome situation, speaking up in a way that’s likely to be heard, recruiting help from others, or just thinking about the situation differently.
Theoretically, we’re probably all in favor of kids learning to deal with difficult situations on their own, but our resolve to support our kids’ independence can waver when we learn that someone’s being mean to our child!