My child is being punched at kindergarten by a girl who also continually does things to him. For example, putting soap on his chair, messing with his outdoor clothes, etc.
The teachers know and have talked to the girl’s parents, but the behavior continues. My child is scared to go and cries about it sometimes. I’m not entirely sure how to handle it, because that’s the teachers job and I’m not there to help or see it.
Eventually, I’m considering involving the police, but that seems pretty last resort.
Any suggestions?
Edit
The director and teachers are all aware of the issues
Unfortunately, we need to know how to defend ourselves from physical violence, no matter who is dealing it out.
Having been bullied in school myself, I can also attest that it only stopped when I started fighting back.
They’re 4 years old.
So four year olds shouldn’t defend themselves from physical violence?
They should be taught how to resolve conflict without hitting.
Based on what I’ve read here, I think that’s been tried and doesn’t work. Until it does, that four year old gets to go out in the world with fear, with the adults around seeming to be unable or unwilling to help.
When my kids were younger, and had these very same troubles, I told them what I was doing that they might not have been able to see, and that they shouldn’t start a fight but they had every right to finish one, and that I’d stand behind them if it came to that.
Just having the confidence that they could defend themselves in the moment helped a lot.
Sending a 4 year old out with the message that they can alleviate their fear by being violent only breeds more violence.
I wish I lived in the ideal world that you live in.
If they were 12 you might have a point, but at 5 kids are still malleable enough that teaching nonviolent conflict resolution is realistic and can have lasting impact
I previously mentioned that that’s not working. Or if it’s “going to take time” , the kid is getting punched on the regular until then.
Yes, kids should learn to seek nonviolent solutions. They should also be taught not to allow other people to abuse them. Stopping or preventing such abuse may well require the judicious use of violence or the legitimate threat of it.
The world where girls and women are raped at extremely high rates by men? By violent men? By men that are taught that they can restore their pride and self-esteem by enacting violence on others?
Yeah, come live in this world with me.
I’ve never said anything about gender here.
5.5yo
Ok 5 years old. That doesn’t change my point at all.