Dealing with Teasing Teasing and bullying are common challenges for many students.
And the problem is at its worse in middle school it would seem.
While you can't control what other kids do, think or say, you do have choices when it comes to how you respond to the teasing.
Here are six things to keep in mind when dealing with bulling and teasing from other kids.
1.
Teasing isn't your fault.
You usually haven't done anything to deserve to be teased.
The teaser is the one who is tormented.
2.
Responding to teasing and bullying with violence put-downs or threats is not the answer but will make the situation worse.
Instead, don't play the same game that the bully is playing and keep your self-respect in tact.
3.
Don't believe your teasers.
Its bad enough when other kids put you down, but when you replay their rude comments over in your mind, you hurt yourself over and over.
4.
You may want to change your response to the teasing.
Instead of being hurt and feeling bad, try to ignore the teasing and let the teasing roll off your back.
That way, you will not be giving the teaser any power over you.
And after a while, the teaser will quit.
5.
When others are mean to you, try to focus on some of your good qualities and forget about what the teasers are saying.
It is nothing personal.
In fact, when kids tease you, they are saying more about themselves than they are about you.
6.
Don't suffer in silence.
Talk to a teacher that you trust.
You may also want to tell your parents about the teasing, especially if it is constant and unrelenting by one or two kids.
It is important that you speak up for yourself.
Remember that kids tease because they are tormented themselves.
Otherwise, kids wouldn't constantly tease you.
Try to make sure that you don't take them seriously and if the teasing is getting you down, make sure that you deal with it in the most mature and self-respecting manner that you can.