My son is being bullied?

Question

My six year old son came home yesterday and told me that a black boy in his class has been being really mean to him. I have seen this boy and he is much larger than my son. This boy has been calling my little boy a "white cracker" and has told him that he would hurt him. I have tried to teach my son to be color blind, but clearly this little boys parents have not taught him the same. What should I do?

Answer 1

Kids are nasty and it has nothing to do with the color of their skin, it has to do with their maturity level. Handle the situation just as you would if the comment was not racially-based. (Personally, I don't think it's necessary to get teachers/principals involved for every school yard insult, however - if you're son is actually feeling threatened by this boy, then you may have to.)

Answer 2

Kids need to learn how to handle these situations on their own because it doesn't stop in childhood. Many adults will act like kids being just as cruel in the real world. Unless there is a real threat to this kid hurting your child I would suggest that your son use humor to make the situation less volatile. Maybe you could suggest some funny come backs that won't hurt the other child's feelings. Besides, once the bully sees that he's not getting to your child anymore, he'll stop. Most bullies say and do things not because they are mean but because they are acting out and are using the bullying to have some control over someone else. This child may be in need of some counseling of some sort. Good luck.

Answer 3

Call the school, talk to the teacher and principal. Find out who this boy is and then contact his parents. I would even go and sit in the class for a day and observe the classroom. It's your right as a taxpayer to monitor the class. Make sure this little boy knows that your keeping an eye on him and that your going to contact his parents. If the teacher and principal don't step in then go to the school board and demand protection for your child. Also teach your child to defend himself , put him into karate or anything like that, if this other boy knows that your son was told to defend himself then maybe he will think twice. Right now he knows your child is intimidated but if he gets a good dose of what he's dishing out maybe he will think twice.

Answer 4

I hate to disagree with the majority here, but a 6 year old should not have to stand up for himself. Encouraging him to fight is not a good answer. (Save that for when he's 12!!!) Right now, the best thing would be to set up a conference with his teacher and the principal. A second meeting with the boy's parents may also be in order, but I'd be willing to bet he's learning his behavior at home.
My 6 year old's school does not tolerate bullying, name-calling, or any other form of intimidation. Continued behavior can result in expulsion. Your school handbook should outline the procedures they will use.

Answer 5

i am very sorry for your son i hope he is ok. tell the school what he is doing and tell the teachers to keep him away from him like in the class room tell your son to sit on the other side. i am very sorry that those boys are calling you son a white cracker that is very roud. tell you son to stay posotive and that you are going to try your best oh and if it does not stop call there parents. i am 12 years old so i am still in school and i now what goes on. i hope i was a good help. =) good luck!!!

Answer 6

Talk to his teacher and explain your concerns. Bullying is a real problem in school and often the teacher does not see it or hear it. Make her aware of it and then talk to the principal. I would not under any conditions let this continue. A child self-esteem is at stake and the child doing the bullying has bad self-esteem.
I would also suggest the school counselor talk to the child and maybe include your child in the conversation to get it out in the open. Children can be so cruel to each other. Good luck and stand by your child.

Answer 7

You definately need to speak with the teacher. Even having a conference with the teacher and parents of the other boy. I'd be less concerned about the race. If you talk about this in front of his parents, they'll probably be embarresed which is sort of the goal.

But, I'd also teach your boy how to fight. I'd tell him never to hit first, or bully other kids, but if he gets hit, hit back and hit back hard. In school, even if first grade, that sort of thing sticks with kids and people won't bully him. A black eye can also be great for self-esteem.

Answer 8

you should call or meet with the principle tell that the little black boy calls your son a white cracker. he can get in trouble for racism also tell the principle that the little black boy threatened your son he can get in trouble for that too but also tell the principle to not say you or your kid told the princible about this cause if the princible tells the little black that you or your kid told the princible about this then your kid will get called mamas boy and could possibly be punched in the face or worse

Answer 9

I hate to say it but your son is going to need to stand up to this kid... and he may have to fight him. I don't think this bully is targeting your son b/c he's white, he's bullying him b/c your son is getting scared. Bullies like it when ppl are scared of them, but once somebody stand up to them they'll back off. I would first go to the teacher and then the administration...if the problem continues let the school know that you're going to allow your son to protect himself, since they're not doing anything to protect him.

Maybe sign your son up for some karate classes, so he can learn to defend himself. I can guarantee you that the bully won't back down until your son shows him that he's not afraid.

Answer 10

Try having your son go to school with some snacks, and to tell the bully that he wants to be friends with him and to offer him some of the snacks, kids at that age are sometimes fooled by the smallest presents, maybe get an inexpensive toy and have your kid take it to school and share it with the kid during play time or whatever, there is no use to teach him to fight, violence only results in many more challenges down the line, if he was older, the bullies would see it as kissing up, but at that age, it will be forgotten about by the time next school year begins. Try doing the kindness thing first, as long as your kid doesn't come home with any bruises or cuts, it's just words, and words are nothing different than someone popping off the "F" Bomb in a supermarket while you are shopping with your kid, sooner or later they are going to hear bad words, and words are just words, but just make sure that your son is aware that there are bad people in the world, no matter what color they are, so that he doesn't go thinking that all black people are bad, some of my favorite people in the world are outside of my race (white), and he doesn't need to get any hate in his eyes towards any single color, good luck!!

WHO IN THE WORLD WOULD POSSIBLY OF GIVEN ME A THUMBS DOWN ON THIS STATEMENT?? TEACHING A KID TO ATTEMPT TO MAKE PEACE, THAT VIOLENCE ISN'T THE ANSWER, NOR IS RACISM??!!! WHOEVER DID THAT NEEDS TO RE-EVALUATE LIFE!! AND TO THE PERSON WHO SAID THE BLACK KID IS RACIST FOR SAYING "WHITE CRACKER" THE KID IS TOO YOUNG TO KNOW WHAT RACISM IS YOU IDIOT! IT WOULD BE THE PARENTS THAT TOUGHT HIM THAT, THEREFORE THEY WOULD BE THE RACISTS!!

AND TO THOSE THAT ARE TELLING HER THAT FIGHTING IS WHAT HE HAS TO DO!!! HE'S 6!! SIX PEOPLE!! NOT A HIGH SCHOOLER OR MIDDLE SCHOOLER, THIS IS FRESH OUT OF KINDERGARTEN, WHERE KIDS PUSH EACH OTHER FOR A FIRETRUCK!! IF YOU HAVE TWO KIDS THAT ARE BOTH 6 YEARS OLD, AND THEY ARE YOUR SONS, AND ONE PUSHES THE OTHER DOWN AND REPEATS SOMETHING HE OVERHEARD AN ADULT SAY, ARE YOU GOING TO TELL THE ONE THAT WAS PUSHED DOWN TO GET UP AND BEAT YOUR OTHER SONS @SS??!! YOU PEOPLE ARE DUMB!