And you may be angry or embarrassed by your child's behavior. All of these feelings can make it hard to talk to children who have engaged in hurtful teasing. Here are some suggestions to keep the conversation going. Giving children a chance to explain, even when they have done something wrong, helps them feel less defensive. Helping children remember similar incidents in their own lives is another good way to help them develop empathy.
Kids sometimes feel threatened by direct questions.
General statements, or anecdotes about your own life, can encourage children to respond without feeling put on the spot. Remember that the goal of these discussions is not to humiliate or embarrass your children, but to help them stop purposely hurting other children's feelings, and to understand more about themselves in such social situations. Encourage them to avoid games that involve coming up with increasingly gross or nasty put-downs. These can lead to hurt feelings and even fights. When Your Child Is Being Teased Children may have strong feelings about being the victims of teasing, and that can make it hard to talk with them about it.