When teasing becomes hurtful, one solution is to bring kids and adults into classrooms to discuss their "differences."
Q
I have a four-year-old son attending preschool and my concern is about the intolerance of his classmates. The children tend to tease a lot, and take any out-of-the-ordinary action as a means to hurt each other emotionally. I have pointed this out to his teacher who has recognized the problem, but it is not getting any better.
A
In my community, we bring kids and adults into classrooms to discuss their "differences." Kids who are blind, deaf, physically disabled, etc. are brought into classrooms as part of a comprehensive program designed to break down the barriers of ignorance and fear that fuel prejudice and insensitivity. Perhaps you could start up such a program.
Robert Coles has written a helpful book on raising moral children. Janice Cohn has written Raising Compassionate, Courageous Children in a Violent World. Charles Smith's book The Peaceful Classroom would also be a fine resource for helping kids develop respect for others. I'd also ask a children's librarian to help you find books that deal with appreciating differences and being kind. Doing a content keyword search on amazon.com always provides a comprehensive list of valuable titles, including brief reviews. Good luck; I applaud your efforts.
