STEP FOUR: Role playing with a twist
Practice role-playing games with your child by taking the role of the target while your child takes the role of the bully. This approach has two advantages: First, kids feel reluctant to take the role of the target when they aren’t very good at it yet. And second, the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else.
Make sure you let your child know that you’re depending on them to point out any mistakes you might make, whether it’s forgetting to make eye contact, whining, or slouching. By being the kind of target who makes every mistake in the book, you’re affording your child many opportunities for learning how not to respond to a bully.
When your child has ‘mastered’ what not to do, and has a few comebacks of their own for responding to the bully, then you can safely switch roles. Remember: nothing improves a child’s hearing like praise! Be generous with complimenting everything your child does right.
