We partnered with JIMMY Patterson Books to share this post about Teaching Our Kids About Being Nice When Others Aren’t and Giveaway. However, ALL opinions are my own.

Kids walking R

It was in third grade that drama between the girls in my daughters class started. They would be friends one moment and then “not like each other” each other the next. Mean things would be said, people would feel left out and I remember having daily discussions with my daughter about how she should deal with it all. I found myself telling her that…

  • Unfortunately people can be mean and while we can’t control how people treat us, we can control how we react to it.
  • You are not going to be friends with everyone and that is OK but you do have to be nice.
  • Sometimes people have bad days or say things they do not mean.
  • No matter what, I am always here to help. While I’d rather she resolve her own issues if that isn’t working, I will gladly give her the support she needs.
  • She can always talk to me…about anything. I have always encouraged it and make it a point to engage in those conversations so that she continues to feel comfortable doing so. If I don’t know what is going on, I am unable to help.

What do you do to teach your child not to be a bully? How have you dealt with your child being bullied?

Before the end of the school year, I attended an event at my daughter’s school and a parent pulled me to the side to chat. With tears in her eyes she began to share that her 5th grade daughter was having a rough time at school. She went on to say what her daughter had been dealing with, kids being really mean to her, and that she just wanted to let me know that she was thankful for my daughter. Apparently my daughter was taking the time to talk to this girl, defend her and include her and it had really meant a lot to them. My heart was breaking for this mom and her child but my heart was also full of pride.

with my baby girl R

I am so proud of my baby girl. As a parent you never know if your children are going to actually apply the lessons you spend so much time trying to teach them. As she prepares to enter middle school, I am super nervous about “mean girls” but as much as I’d like to protect her from it, it is a part of life. All I can do is prepare her for it so that she knows how to handle it. I also try to reaffirm all of the things that make her so wonderful so that she remembers those truths and not the hurtful lies people may say.

My son goes into third grade next year and while I assume there won’t be as much drama since he is a boy, there will be discussions to be had to make sure he is being nice to others. Hopefully some of what I have already told his sister is stored in his memory some where. This summer, I am having the kiddos read Pottymouth and Stoopid by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein.

David and his best friend Michael were tagged with awful nicknames way back in preschool when everyone did silly things. Fast-forward to seventh grade: “Pottymouth” and “Stoopid” are still stuck with the names—and everyone in school, including the teachers and their principal, believe the labels are true. So how do they go about changing everyone’s minds? By turning their misery into megastardom on TV, of course! Follow their roller-coaster journey from the ultimate losers to the biggest winners, with more than 100 hilarious illustrations in this signature Patterson format. And this important story delivers more than just laughs—it shows that the worst bullying doesn’t have to be physical . . . and that things will get better.

Drown out the bullies with this giveaway prize!

Pottymouth and Stoopid Prize Pack Giveaway

One winner receives a copy of Pottymouth and Stoopid, plus a pair of kids’ wireless noise reduction headphones.

*Open to US addresses only. Prizing provided by JIMMY Patterson Books

Pottymouth and Stoopid Prize Pack giveaway

Join The Conversation…

In what ways do you teach your children about being nice when others aren’t?