Intervention strategies

Telling your child to ignore the teasing usually doesn't work and could result in your child getting hurt. The important thing is that he or she knows you are taking it seriously and that you're there to support them.

Your first step is to discuss it with your child's teacher, who may not be aware of the bullying at all. Role-playing various strategies and solutions can help your child feel more confident and less like a victim when facing difficult teasing situations.

Strategies for parents

Listen and validate your child's feelings when he says someone is calling him names and teasing him.

Try not to evaluate how well your child handled teasing; instead, praise your child for trying to handle this difficult situation.

Help your child develop a repertoire of confident comebacks, using previous name-calling situations as examples for practice.

Help your child practice hiding her emotions when she is called names or teased. Role playing (setting up a pretend situation) can provide safe practice opportunities.

Have your child practice looking right at the teaser and maintaining eye contact. This shows strength and confidence.