Total Ignoring Does Not Work                   

Teach kids about "total ignoring" and its ineffectiveness as a strategy when being bullied (except when a kid is threatening physical violence – if this is the case teach kids to ignore the bully get to an adult immediately to remain safe).

Totally ignoring someone is pretending you do not hear him while he is speaking to you. This strategy is common but never works. Why? The bully knows the kid is purposely ignoring him because what he is saying or doing bothers him. So guess what? The bully is going to do it again and again and again – as long as the other child keeps pretending he cannot hear the bully. What to do? Teach children a good comeback line, and instruct them to look the bully in the eyes and say the comeback line - and THEN begin to totally ignore the bully's words. This sends the bully the message that his words and actions DO NOT bother the victim (even if they do!). Make sure the comeback is appropriate:  no name calling or put-downs because this will make the bullying continue.

Copyright 2002 by Tom Letson. All rights reserved.

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