Yr 1 DS being teased, how to handle it?

[workshyfop]

Got called into school today to discuss DSs behaviour. Never had any problems before but in the last week and a half he's been playing up in class, distracting other kids, some kicking, ignoring the teacher when she asks him to stop. Teacher wanted to know if anything had changed at home as this is unlike him. Nothing has. Talked to him about it tonight and he says 4 boys have been teasing him because of a birthmark he has on his leg. They've seen it when he wears shorts for PE. He says he feels really angry and that's why he's been behaving badly. We'll let the school know this tomorrow. Can anyone advise in how to deal with this sort of situation? I don't know how best to advise him re how to respond when they tease him. Also worried that if the teacher speaks to the other boys it might make things worse for my DS.

I would let him wear jiggers from now on. But I do think it's best that the boys are taken aside by the head and given a telling off.

I think it's also important to tell your ds that sometimes we will encounter bullies in life and the best way to deal with it at this level is to not give a reaction to the boys. They will soon get bored.

Joggers

Thanks Quite. He has both joggers and shorts in his pe bag. I'll suggest he wears his joggers.

Not sure about covering it up - I'd be thinking more about getting him to tell them they're being silly and it's just a birthmark. At least that's what we did when DS was teased about something and it seemed to peter out quickly. We sympathised but in a "oh how annoying, some people do say daft things don't they" sort of way.

I'm sure the teacher will be able to sort it out anyway though. They've got lots of experience at untangling small child politics!

Any decent teacher will deal with this through circle time or equivalent, talking about differences, etc and how we treat people - not by just telling the boys not to do it. Talk to the teacher, OP, and take it from there - and yes let DS wear trousers, but only if he wants to - it would be awful for him to learn that he has to hide his birthmark.

Thanks catkind and stealth. It doesn't seem right that he should have to hide it but I'll give him the choice.