There are four strings in the tangled ball of bullying that I think are really important:
• Early Prevention
• Parenting
• Parent-School Relationship
• Role of the Bystander (Upstander!)
I thought of all four of these as I watched the first day of Kindergarten unfold at a school in my neighborhood.
Kindergarten is such a beautiful milestone. The kids are adorable and excited and the parents are interested in getting them on the right path.
In other words, everyone is anxious to be at their best so it becomes a huge teachable opportunity for the kids and the adults! Kindergarten teachers have a big job. They teach kids everything from tying their shoes to reading…but they’re also teaching the parents how to be “school ready” and how to get involved in their children’s education.
Part of that education is how the kids treat each other (early prevention and becoming upstanders) but also how parents (parenting) should interact with the school and how the school should communicate with the parent (parent-school relationship).
Does your school encourage a healthy parent/school relationship?
Please share the good and/or the bad. It’s one of the key ingredients to a successful school career and we can all learn from each other.
