Keeping the learning environment safe for children at school is our top priority at Blaine Elementary. That means ensuring that our building, grounds and busses are free safety and health hazards. It also means that we pay attention to the emotional safety of everyone here, too. Teasing is often one way kids with low feelings of self-esteem choose to make themselves feel better. Children who are unsure of themselves or who don't like themselves can feel "put up" by "putting down" another person. Teaching children the skill of Responding to Teasing empowers them and diminished the effect of another person's unkindness.

1. Stop and count to five. A good way to do this is to take five big relaxing breaths! This allows children keep themselves from losing control by saying something unkind back, shouting, using inappropriate language, hitting, crying. A11 of these responses are very entertaining to the teaser! . . .and may also have unpleasant consequences for the child being teased.

2. Think about your choices:

-- Ignore the teasing. Ignoring for a short time doesn't always work right away; your child may need to ignore for a long time. How many ways can you and your child think of to ignore someone who is teasing? (e.g. walk away, turn your back, gaze at something/someone else in the room, ???)

-- Say how you feel. This is sticking up for yourself! Practice with your child, "I feel when you because ." No one can tell another person they don't have a specific feeling; your feelings are real and they are your own!

-- Give a reason for the person to stop. "You just want to get me upset." "Name calling isn't going to work with me." "I'll tell an adult." Suggest to your child the she/he, in a friendly tone of voice, let the person teasing know that she/he has options!

3. Pick one of the choices and DO it. Remember if one choice doesn't work, pick another!

p.s. These skill strategies work for adults as well!