My DS is 9. He’s a gentle child and v docile/ shy. We’ve had trouble for about a year with a pair of boys targeting him. I’ve spoken to the school, and they’ve separated the boys in class. However, I’m really struggling with how to protect my son in other situations:
- they all attend a hobby club together. My DS has been going for 3 years and loves the club. I’ve spoken to the club leader (without naming the other boys) so she keeps an eye out but they’ll find opportunities to be mean to him (taunting about any mistakes, ‘accidental’ shoving, hiding his bag etc) when an adult isn’t watching
- they will target him in the playground when adults aren’t around
- at school related activities outside school. So for example, at class birthday parties.
school say they understandably can’t do anything as these things are happening outside school. I can stop DS going to his hobby/ class parties but I’m worried that will be counterproductive by making him more isolated. The parents are superficially nice but their boys have form for being nasty and they obviously aren’t addressing the issues. I’ve read all the resources (nspcc, bbc) but i can’t seem to figure out a way forward. Has anyone dealt with this issue? I’ve spoken to DS about avoiding them, but they seem to seek him out. I’m not imagining it as on two separate occasions other parents have asked me if everything is ok and noted how nasty the behaviour is. I’ve talked to DS about sticking up for himself but because it’s 2 on 1 and he’s not as rough, he hasn’t been able to.