Juicy Juice | How can I teach my 5-year-old to be kind? Recently, he’s started bossing other kids around, especially if they’re younger or smaller than he is. I don’t want him to turn into a bully.

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How can I teach my 5-year-old to be kind? Recently, he's started bossing other kids around, especially if they're younger or smaller than he is. I don't want him to turn into a bully.

- Dion, Allentown, NJ

Debbie Drown, Educator, Principal, says:

It's not unusual for children to become bossy with younger or smaller children. Here are a couple of suggestions:

1) Read stories with him that involve characters being unkind or bossy to each other. Talk with him about the characters in the story feel when they are being hurt or bossed by the other character.

2) Create stories together about the same topic. (He might even be the main character who finds out how his behavior is hurting others)

3) Each time you observe a behavior where he is being unkind or bossy, talk with him about it in a calm way by asking him if he understands what just happened.

4) Reward him with kind, encouraging words when you observe him being kind or changing a behavior.

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