We partnered with JIMMY Patterson Books to share this post and giveaway! All thoughts and opinions in this post are my own. #PottymouthandStoopid
It’s an awful feeling when, as a parent, you find out that your child has been the victim of bullying. I know that feeling all too well. It’s equally awful to find out that other children have been bullied by YOUR child.
There are so many ways to handle the effects of bullying after the fact, but I would love to be able to tackle bullying before it even happens, and so I thought I would put together a list of tips for teaching kids to not be bullies. How amazing would the world be if there were fewer bullies around?
As a mother of five kids, I fully recognize that each child is different – both from the perspective of one being bullied as well as from the side of the bully or potential bully. Not everything will work with every child, but any little bit that we can do to reduce bullying is a step in the right direction.
How To Teach Your Child To NOT Be a Bully
Teach kindness and respect – When I was a kid, I learned a children’s song that had the line “kindness begins with me.” And learning kindness begins at home. We have always taught our kids to stick by the Golden Rule – to treat others how they would like to be treated. It’s a simple policy, though not always simple to learn or do. Practice at home and it will be easier to show kindness and respect to everyone – whether it’s peers or younger kids or adults.
Talk about it – be upfront about your expectations. Talk about bullying – why it’s wrong, what to do if they see someone else being bullied, what to do it they are being bullied, etc.
Be a good example – model the type of behavior that you want your kids to do. When you stand up for the little guy, when you show kindness, and when you show them that it’s cool to be the good guy, then they are more likely to be that person at school and in social situations.
Be a good listener – make yourself available to talk about their problems and concerns. Kids who resort to bullying often have other issues beneath the surface.
Get to know their friends – the friends that your kids choose to spend their time with have a significant influence on the way they act. I’ve noticed with my kids that when they go from elementary school to middle school, several of the good friends that they’ve known during their earlier years become not nice people. It’s a good idea to reevaluate friendships when kids are not being good influences.
If needed, involve teachers and counselors – our kids’ teachers and school counselors have been invaluable resources for dealing with bullying issues. When there’s any concern, whether about my own child’s behavior or someone else’s behavior, I bring the adults who see them all day at school into the conversation so they can keep their eyes and ears open.
My youngest son is 12, and recently started reading Pottymouth and Stoopid by Jimmy Patterson and Chris Grabenstein. The title of the book caught me off guard at first, but as soon as I realized what the book was about, I knew that this was a book I wanted him to read.
About Pottymouth and Stoopid
David and his best friend Michael were tagged with awful nicknames way back in preschool when everyone did silly things. Fast-forward to seventh grade: “Pottymouth” and “Stoopid” are still stuck with the names—and everyone in school, including the teachers and their principal, believe the labels are true. So how do they go about changing everyone’s minds? By turning their misery into megastardom on TV, of course! Follow their roller-coaster journey from the ultimate losers to the biggest winners, with more than 100 hilarious illustrations in this signature Patterson format. And this important story delivers more than just laughs—it shows that the worst bullying doesn’t have to be physical . . . and that things will get better.
Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin
Recommended for ages 9-12
DROWN OUT THE BULLIES GIVEAWAY
In celebration of the recent release of Pottymouth and Stoopid, I have an amazing giveaway to offer you guys! One winner receives a copy of Pottymouth and Stoopid, plus a pair of kids’ wireless noise reduction headphones.
Details: Open to US addresses only. Prizing provided by JIMMY Patterson Books
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Praise for Pottymouth and Stoopid
“This book is light and mighty. Funny and honest. And, in the words of one kid (who lives in my house), ‘It’s like he wrote about the people in my school (minus the limos and flufferknuckles, of course). Pottymouth and Stoopid is really, really good.’” —Kwame Alexander, Newbery Medal-winning author of The Crossover
“I have one word for this book: SUPERWONDERRIFIC.” —Jerry Spinelli, Newbery Medal-winning author of Maniac Magee and Stargirl
“A funny, poignant tale of two quirky boys who suffer from years of endless teasing. Pottymouth and Stoopid triumph in the end, but only after reminding us how painful bullying can be. Boys are going to love this story.” — Dr. Michael Thompson, New York Times bestselling co-author of Raising Cain
“Silly, insightful, and triumphant, POTTYMOUTH AND STOOPID proves that awesome humor goes hand-in-hand with making the world a better place. Pottymouth and Stoopid are full of heart and brain and joy. You’ll remember this book and these boys for a long time.” – Carrie Jones, New York Times bestelling author of the Need series, Time Stoppers, and co-editor of Dear Bully
© 2017, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
I hope that all of the conversations my kids and I have had concerning bullying, that they will know what to do if its happening to them or if they see it happening to someone else to go to an adult and tell them what they have seen.
I hope that all of the conversations my kids and I have had concerning bullying, that they will know what to do if its happening to them or if they see it happening to someone else to go to an adult and tell them what they have n.
My tip is to treat others like you wish they would treat you. But also to tell an adult if someone is bullying you.
I always recommend that the child inform an adult of the situation as soon as possible.
Always speak up if you see someone being bullied!
I keep teaching my son to treat others how he would want to be treated, and if he is ever bullied he shouldn’t be afraid to tell an adult he trusts.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
I think you should teach your kids if they are being bullied to let their parents know and talk to the counselor
I think it’s important to teach your child empathy and how their actions would make others feel.
Get help from faculty at the school – since they’re the ones around they can help spot bullying going on.
Make sure to tell someone (adult/teacher) right away. And I tell my kids to stick up for their friends as well.
Our kids know that everyone can have a bad day. Talking with an classmate can solve problems early.
Oh we are just getting into these phases now with our little one. I am going to be reading what everyone else puts. We have always taught him to stand up for those in need….I would love to win this book to help teach him how to handle situations at school.
Talk to adults such as parents and teachers and ask for help while ignoring bullies.
you have to say hey look you cant do this this away you have to do it the legal way otherwise it will all come back and your the bad guy and tell them something is wrong with the bully that is why hes that way
I commented on this post : https://foodfunfamily.com/fun-patriotic-recipes-delicious-dishes-recipe-party-75
Tell someone! Bullying can be hard on people and they need to have their voices heard.
Taught my kids to always remember every action has a reaction, so always be nice.
My best tip for preventing your own children from being the actual bully is to always remind them to treat others how THEY want to be treated. It’s important for children to remember others’ feelings.
commented here https://foodfunfamily.com/goat-cheese-beet-spring-salad/#comment-1392152
We teach the kids to treat others they way you would like to be treated and we encourage them to come to us with any issue. We also tell them to tell an adult if they see someone else being bullied.
We teach the kids to treat others they way you would like to be treated and we encourage them to come to us with any issue.
My son tries to pull anyone he sees getting into a bullying situation away from the bully by distraction.
My tip is to keep the lines of communication open. If you hide what the bully is doing, you are enabling them, so tell any and all authority figures.
You have to ignore the bullies. It’s the worst during the middle school years and you just have to stay strong and ignore.
I make sure I teach my kids to treat people right. I tell them if you see bullying or it’s being done to them to tell some one.