What are “Good Tattles”?
Does your school offer a safe harbor for your child to “tattle” on a school bully or report a threat to the school?
Young children are learning social skills and usually don’t know how to handle a problem on their own. They often need help sorting out what is important to tell an adult versus what they should handle on their own.
It’s one thing when your child repeatedly tattles that his sibling is playing with his toys, but it’s a completely different issue when he tells you that his sibling is playing with fire or that someone at school is trying to hurt him.
Does Your School Know How to Respond to Good Tattles?
Does your school ensure the safety of the “good tattler,” (e.g., the tattler’s identity remains anonymous)?
Does your school take immediate action – nipping all potential problems in the bud?
Talk to your child’s teacher or the school counselor to ensure an adult is monitoring your child. This is especially important during high-risk activities where there is little adult supervision, such as at recess or on the bus. In these cases, the recess teacher or bus driver might be the one who needs to participate in planning the intervention.
Bonus Tips for Parents
If your child has had to tattle on a bully or someone who was a threat, it’s in the best interest of your child that her tip remains anonymous. That means your child must not share her secret with their best friends – a very difficult task (even for adults!).
If you feel that the teacher is not being responsive, meet with the teacher to discuss the situation. Be prepared for your meeting with a clear description of the outcome you’d like to see. If nothing happens, take it to the next level. Go see your school principal. And if your principal doesn’t take action, go to the school board.
Bullying is a grave situation and you want your child to feel comfortable in school.
