QUESTION: I’m kinda big for my age. I’m almost 9. My mom said I got my body from my dad and he’s big boned too.

 My problem is that I feel different from the other girls in my class.  They wear cute outfits to school but I don’t think things look as pretty on me.  Everyone tells me that I have beautiful green eyes and that feels good but I just don’t like my big body.

ANSWER:  Even if you are big, it’s more important what’s on the inside than the outside.  Everyone is pretty for who they are.  I understand that it must be hard to feel different but there are some things that you can’t change about yourself.  So try to focus on the good things about you, because there are!  I hope this helps!

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW: About Dogs and Being Safe

I just read about some important things on The Grouchy Puppy.  My dog Molly is really sweet and so friendly but not every dog is.  This is her picture on her first birthday. Read this to learn about being safe.

•   Never go up to a dog you don’t know, even if he looks friendly.

• If the dog is with his owner ask permission before petting him.

•   Let him sniff the back of your hand first. Then let him sniff the back of your hand before petting him.

• Dogs that don’t know you might not like to be petted on the back of their head.  Try petting their neck or chest instead.

• Don’t move around fast because you might scare the dog.

• If a dog you don’t know comes up to you, stand real still and put your fists under your neck and put your elbows on your chest.  Don’t make eye contact (that means don’t look at the dog).  I think you should practice this so you just know what to do just in case it happens.

• Sometimes dogs just sniff and walk away.  If you run they may chase.  Wait until they walk away and then walk away real slow.

I'm 6. Another kid at school keeps calling me stupid and ugly.

My mom told me to tell him stop it but I don't want to sound mean to him.  I want him to stop.

ANSWER:  In my school and most every classroom there is a sign that's on the wall.  It says:
1. Ignore
2. Say to the person "please stop".
3. Tell the teacher.

If you do that and it doesn’t work try it again.  Say, “STOP!  Now I’m getting very mad. If you keep doing it I’ll get madder and madder.  Then tell the person “I will tell my mom.  I will tell the teacher and I will tell the office at dismissal.”

I’m sorry he hurt your feelings.  I hope this helps you.

I found a GREAT bullying site for kids!

I just found this page and they have lots of video's for kids about bullying.  There are three that I really think you should watch (or have your kids watch):

What Bullying Is
How Bullying Feels
What You Can Do

They're really short and they have kids in them so they really understand.  We all have to help people that are being bullied.  Be a FRIEND!

Here's the link: http://www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org/

QUESTION: From a mom of a 7 year old girl.

Yesterday I got to school late to pick up my daughter.  There was an accident on the road that held me up.  I called the school but no one told her.  She was in the office crying when I got there.  Now she's afraid it will happen again.  I keep telling her that it won't, but she's still afraid.  She's in the second grade.

ANSWER:  You shouldn't tell her it won't happen again because it may.  Then she'll think you lied to her and she won't trust you.  Explain the emergency list that the school has and someone will always be there for her. Tell her who's on the list and who the school will call. Tell her the school has an after care program and some of her friends might be there and a teacher she knows may be watching the kids. (In my school the teacher plays games with the kids!)  If not, she'll still be safe in the school. Tell her to keep a favorite book in her back pack and if she doesn't feel like reading she can start her homework while she waits.  You should probably keep lined paper in her backpack with a pencil and eraser in case she needs it for her homework.  Tell her to put a little notebook in her backpack too in case she wants to write something. Also keep a little extra snack in her lunch box in case she's hungry and if the teacher will let her eat. In my school, someone that works there brings a cart with snacks on it.  Check with your school to see if they do that too. If she knows all the plans she'll feel safer. I hope your daughter understands.

If they can be FRIENDS we should all try too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGxPEye2SnQ&feature=related

QUESTION: My 3 year old brother keeps hitting me.

I'm having problems with my brother.  I'm 8 and he's 3.  He's always hitting me and it really hurts.  My mom says he's a baby and he doesn't know any better.  My friend has a sister that's 3 too and she doesn't hit her.  How can I get my mom to make him stop?  I think she must love him more because she lets him hit me.


ANSWER:  You really need to talk to your mom and tell her how you feel.  She needs to know you're getting hurt and how you really feel about it.  Tell your mom to tell him that hitting is not nice and he needs to stop doing it.  If he doesn't stop your mom needs to put him in time out so he will learn not to hit.  I hope that your mom listens to you and really understands how you feel.