Bullying to me is a VERB and just like we can all run does not mean we are runners! Labels of any kind that are hurtful, are damaging especially to children. All children/adults are good. Good children can make bad decisions, go thru difficult stages. I think the key piece is to help them understand where they are coming from in their behaviours and give them the tools to correct it. There is a difference between a mistake and a repeated mistake, the first time done is a mistake, where as done repeatedly is now a decision which requires different tools to help the child break the cycle.
1. What are the triggers for the child?
2. Give them strategies to change the behaviour.
3. Help them to correct their bad decision making by creating restitution opportunities.
4. Important to help them visualize themselves in a positive light and to remind them we all have different
challenges in life.
5. I also like to take it a step further in reminding them when they have the situation fixed or under control
that they can use this experience to help others thus they can turn these bad decisions into something
good.
There is an old saying No saint without a past and No sinner without a future. What I like about that saying as an educator, it reminds me that we all have areas or times in our life where we have possibly used poor judgement or have been in an unhealthy cycle but that does not mean that is who we are because of it.
For love of a child,
Cindy