How to Handle an Insult

Kids of all ages deal with insults throughout their lives. It's difficult for some kids to handle differences. Insults range from name calling to bullying to violence-provoking situations. Teachers and parents can help create an insult-unfriendly environment, but they can't eliminate insults between kids altogether. Here are some strategies to teach your children about handling insults.

Instructions

1. Teach your children dignity. Insults because of appearance or racial or cultural differences stem from misunderstandings. Make your kids understand that being different isn't a bad thing.

2. Emphasize they should remain calm. This is especially difficult in a charged situation where someone is hurling insults at them one after the other. Their calmness encourages other kids around them to handle the situation that way.

3. Show your kids how to look detached. Even if they're hurting inside, a guarded appearance can unnerve many of their opponents. One of the things insulting kids want is to get everyone excited. Failing this makes them look like idiots.

4. Tell them to always turn away from the kids who are insulting them. Violence, whether verbal or physical, is never a solution and only encourages their opponents to keep up the insults. By allowing themselves to get drawn into conflict, they give control of the situation to their insulters.

5. Talk to their friends about the insults other kids are hurling at your children. By educating them about the issues; whether it's about appearance, race or culture; you prime them to support your child in these difficult situations.

6. Encourage them to tell an adult if it keeps happening. Kids are naturally reluctant to do this, but explain to them insults are a symptom of intolerance. Teach them what happens when someone grows up to be intolerant.

7. Celebrate your differences so your children have a stable sense of themselves. A black youth who's aware of the history of African American struggles for freedom will handle insults better than one who isn't.

Tips & Warnings

• Make it clear to your children what's acceptable and unacceptable when handling insults.

• Emphasize that kids shouldn't hold grudges because sometimes the child who insulted them can become a good friend in later years.