My DS is exactly the same! DH worries that he'll be pushed around, but I don't want to teach him to fight back.
I haven't actually seen him being bullied really, but he tends to dawdle at the top of the stairs/slide or stand around in teh way and kids get impatient and push past him. Or he plays a game when he runs around and plonks down on his bum, and the other kids 'help' him by pushing him over. Or he's vague and 'loses' his toy or food to another kid.
I've tried explaining to him that he needs to move on, get out of the way or the other kids will push him. But he's so dreamy he can't seem to remember. I'd like him to participate in a little rough and tumble play without getting violent obviously, but also without getting upset if someone bumps him. He practices saying no, or will say it very quietly, but mostly just stands there stock still as it happens.
I feel like I should leave him to figure it out for himself - it's an important life skill, right? But I'm not sure.
Hard to know what to do isn't it MadB. On one hand you don't want to fight their battles, but on the other you don't want them to be walked all over.
Do you think a sport like soccer would help your DS? A bit rough but not violent.
Yeah, we're going to start a kiddie sport thing next term. I'm hoping that will help a bit. He's not very well developed physically for his age too, which is part of it I think.
I've been thinking on this - maybe we need to provide better role models? DH and I both totally non-confrontational. He probably doesn't get to see us dealing with issues much so maybe we need to have some disagreements and sort it out...?
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