How to deal with rude children at school

[lemonpickle]

I know I am probably being over-sensitive, but I am fed up of other children making rude comments towards DS. I don't know if I should tell off the little rascals or just let it pass?

DS has Autism (but its not obvious and I don't think the other children were aware of that). He has poor motor skills (gross and fine) and struggles with balance. Today in the school playground we got two comments about DS's scooter (along the lines of 'That scooter is babyish and only for babies'). He's 6 and in Yr 2 and just started riding his scooter to school. One of the comments was from a Yr 1 boy and I'm not sure who the other boy was. The mothers were nowhere to be seen.

I know children often say things like that to each other, but I am sick of hearing such comments so frequently aimed at my son. He is near the bottom of the class and I also frequently hear from other children comments like 'DS's drawing is just a load of scribbles', etc.

I am aware that my son is unlikely to be perfect and may one day also say such things (but if I do ever hear him say anything unkind I reprimand him straightaway).
How do you deal with such children - do you say anything or just ignore it?

[lemonpickle]

My preferred response would be 'Well at least he (DS) is not a rude little brat like you are'.

However, I know that is completely overreacting and I would also be quite rude then! I find it hard not to see red.

A zinc dirt scooter sounds cool!

[Imaginosity]

I wouldn't say anything more than 'that's not a nice thing to say' - but I would go to the teacher and ask her to sort it out.

[MattDillonsPants]

Definitely call them on it AND speak to his teacher. Low level stuff like this erodes confidence and is completely unnecessary. Children of reception age can learn about being kind to others.

Say "That's not a nice thing to say" and defend the items or skills they're knocking

So..

"DS likes this scooter and he's not a baby, so it's not babyish"

Mild things like that will also show DS that it's not ok.

[Homebird8]

How about something like "That's not true" over the scooter comment, "Everyone does their best and practises so that they learn" over the drawing, and "That's not kind" over all issues.

Then turn your face away and give them no more attention.

[LaughingHyena]

My standard reply was that because this one is easier to balance DS can go faster. I think Y2 was around the peek of our "babyish" type comments, but sadly that's in part to DS no longer wanting to scoot to school.

Defiantly agree that it's something to pass back to the school though, either to the class teacher if they are children in his class or to the head if they are not.