speech issues - how to cope with "mean" children

[ladycalledstan]

My ds has some minor speech issues - to do with pronouncing words.
He had SALT but now has been discharged but his speech still a bit unclear.

I've notices recently a few children making unpleasant comments to him such as "I don't understand you" in a sarcastic voice when he said something and saying "what's a dhark" (park) when my son was talking. (the second child definitely knew my son was saying park btw).

the other children were both 5 and my son is 4. My son I think didn't really register they were being mean or slightly registered it but didn't respond to them.bvj

How should I tell my son to respond to this sort of thing. should he just ignore them or could I give him something to say. I don't want his confidence eroded he is a lovely little boy.

thanks for any help

ps apologies for having 2 threads - just feeling anxious aboiut him tonight!

[senvet]

Agreed - My ds once said something a bit mean to a kid with a different number of fingers. I was over-the-moon when the other kid's mum told me that he had reprimanded my ds.

My ds probably hadn't stopped to think how the other kid would feel, but he needed to know.

[ladycalledstan]

Thanks for useful replies! I guess I will have to be more proactive at intervening then. The 2 incidents happened at an activity we all do as we waited to go in the hall (so the other kids mums were also there, standing right by us which is why I think I was more hesitant to say anything as it might seem a bit heavy handed).

The boy making a comment about how my son said park wasn't even in the conversation - my son was talking to me. So we just sort of ignored him as it was unclear who he was talking to anyway, just sort of showing off. His mum was with him. But my son definitely noticed as he mentioned it to me - I just said maybe [the boy] doesn't know what a park is or wanted to go himself. If it happens again I will say something to him.

I wasn't sure whether ignoring was a better policy or if I should be priming my ds to say something instead as it probably happens when I am not there as well.