My son loves his daycare. He’s made lots of little friends and is learning social skills that he may not have learned otherwise being an only child at home. But lately I’ve been a little worried about him. He’s been coming home saying that one little boy in particular has been being mean to him. Little kids often get into little scuffles over having to share a favorite toy or taking turns on the swings, but when Logan started coming home from daycare with scratches all over him I knew I had to do something.
I couldn’t switch daycares at the time, but every time I dropped Logan off I felt like I was throwing him to the wolves. I decided to sit down and talk to his daycare lady about the situation and see if she had any suggestions on how to fix the problem. We were able to talk things out and the last few days seem to have been better, but I still worry about Logan. I want daycare to be a safe place for him to play with his friends and I worry that I’m not there to shield him from everything.
As single parents, we tend to want to do this even more. We feel guilty for the divorce and so we try to protect them from the pain of everyday life, when instead we should be teaching them how to stand up for themselves. Don’t encourage your child to fight back, this will only exacerbate the problem. Instead teach them to tell an adult when they are being bullied. When they are little like this, it is much easier for an adult to solve the problem. If you suspect your child is being bullied don’t be afraid to talk to someone about it. You want your child to feel safe and sometimes that means having an uncomfortable conversation with the people involved. Approach the situation calmly and don’t place blame. As soon as you start blaming the other child, parents get on the defense and quit listening to what you are saying. The way you approach the situation can make all the difference in the world. It may not be the most enjoyable conversation in the world, but you are doing what your child can’t right now, and that’s what’s important.