Handling Teasing

Simon's Hook

A great book to teach strategies for handling teasing is "Simon's Hook" by Karen Gedig Burnett. She tells a fish story about fish who "bite" and fish who are "free fish". She likens teasing to these hooks and teaches the kids to avoid biting the "hooks". The five strategies to stay a "free fish" are:

1. Do little or nothing...Don't react! Ignore the hook!
2. Agree with the hook...that it COULD BE true!
3. Change the Subject (Distract the fisherman)!
4. Laugh or Joke about the hook. Just don't make fun of the fisherman.
5. Swim in another part of the sea. (Stay away.)

I have found that often the best answer to a tease is just to say, "Thanks for noticing!" and walk away.