He can't understand why they make fun of him, call him names and bully him. I know I can't protect him from bullies, but I wonder if there's a way I can approach the subject with him and not discourage his love for people at the same time. It's a monumental task for a kindergartner to combat the teasing and mean-spirited tactics of bullies, but your child's love of people won't be smothered by the behavior of a few on the bus. When you explain to him that some children treat others badly, make it clear that most people are nice. And tell him the bullies may end up being friendlier toward him when they're older, but for now he needs to ignore them and stay away from them.
Bullying is verbal aggression and it needs to be stopped just like hitting.
The key to stopping it is to create a safe environment with clear rules against bullying, active teacher and parent involvement, and victim support and protection. Children's aggression is often hardest to combat on the school bus, where only the driver can supervise. I know deals with the problem by calling the bully and the victim into her office to role-play. Once the aggressor is forced to stand in the victim's shoes, he or she often develops empathy for the other and the bullying stops. Researchers who've studied bullying say the typical bully is usually physically strong, aggressive and impulsive, while the average victim is often physically weak, timid, anxious, sensitive or shy.