"Just Ignore It"

“Just ignore it.” Three little well-intentioned words adults have said and generations of kids have heard about bullying. Well, it's time to ignore that advice. Why? “Just ignore it” loosely translates into: • “It’s not that big a deal.” • “You're tougher than that.” • “It will just go away if you pretend it isn't happening.” • “It is just part of growing up.” In other words, “there’s nothing you can do.” And that’s just not true. When a kid tells an adult about bullying, it’s a great opportunity to talk about what can be done. It’s a chance to find responses that are appropriate for the situation and the kid’s comfort level. Does anything go away by ignoring it? Homework doesn’t. Bills don’t. And neither does bullying.