Stop Picking On Me (A First Look At Series)

Rating:
Summary: A toolbook for dealing with bullies
Review: The issue of bullying is no longer considered simply a rite of passage in schools. a April 2001 study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (within the National Institutes of Health) says that 16% of all children have been bullied by other children in their current school term. The authors of the report say bullying should be considered a public health problem.

That said, for any parent whose child has been bullied by another...it's a problem that can completely overshadow a child and a family.

"Stop Picking on Me" was a tremendous tool to help our 7 year old daughter. She has been bullied for 2 years by another girl at our school. Although the school tried to be responsive to our concerns, like most bullying, it often takes place where no one can see it.

We needed to help our daughter understand what was making this girl pick on her, and what she could do to protect herself. It is easy to read, and helps your child understand what makes a bully tick. My daughter said the illustrations really showed how she felt when she was singled out by the bully.

Thomas' book gave us a chance to really talk about what was happening at school, and how to deal with it. The most important lesson your child will learn is that it's okay to tell someone. The message is easy enough for a four year old to understand, but there's enough information here to spark a good discussion with an older child.

This book won't make a bully go away, but it will help you talk to your child about bullying and help give your child the tools and hopefully the courage to stand up to the schoolyard or neighborhood bully.