Chaplain's Spot
Clever Comebacks
‘Whatever!’ ‘Is that all you’ve got?’ 'Really?’ ‘I’m sorry you feel that way’
‘Your opinion’ [Walk away] ‘What’s your point?’ [Turn away]
‘Are you finished?’ ‘Not listening’ ‘I heard you and I don’t care’
‘Yes, we are all different – that’s a good thing?’
Part of being resilient at school and in life is being able to respond proactively and not suffer when others try to put you down. Clever comebacks can help empower children against those who are mean-on-purpose. The responses are on a card that I created with input from others.
These comebacks are not meant to further inflame a situation, but to show that harsh comments are not going to be taken on board, but ignored. They will not stick, but be dropped quick-ly. I usually say that not all of them may be effective, but you can try different ones and see what works. Also, you need to persist – keep trying, don't give up.
These are comments from the following website: https://kids-first.com.au/how-to-beat-bullying-10-clever-comeback-lines-for-kids/. Teacher and Kids First Children’s Services founder, Sonja Walker, shares her thoughts on teaching your child to make handling the politics of the playground easier.
Managing mean kids in the playground can be easier when your child knows what to say. When they are being teased, it’s easy for adults to tell them to respond with a clever comeback line … but in the emotion of the moment, it can be hard for kids to think of a statement that is effective and appropriate. To equip your child, it’s helpful to practice effective comebacks at home so they are able to respond confidently in the playground.
Talk & practice at home first: If other children are troubling your child, talk about the problem and try role-playing at home when your child is calm, and it’s easier for them to learn and remember what to say. You can play the part of the problematic peer, and your child can rehearse the response they will make. If they have practised what they will say, they are more likely to be able to dive into their repertoire of responses when emotions are running high.
Clever comebacks build confidence: It’s important to realise that a clever comeback will not necessarily stop bullying, but it can increase your child’s confidence. Sometimes, mean kids have just one line of verbal attack. They might tell your child ‘You’re ugly’, or ‘You’re fat’. If this has been effective in upsetting your child in the past, they use it over and over again.
Why comebacks are effective: When your child becomes confident with responding in a clever way, they effectively challenge their bully to come up with something new. A bully who finds that their victim is no longer an easy target will be discouraged and often the teasing stops. Try to teach your child that a comeback is not a retaliating insult. Help them to understand that they don’t need to be negative, mean or nasty in return, because this would make their behaviour just like that of the bully.
When not to use a comeback: If there’s a chance that the other child will lash out physically when they are challenged, a comeback may not be the best option. If things have become so serious that a mean child may get physical, encourage your child to talk with a teacher. You may want to go with them when they do this, so that you are supporting and empowering them as they seek support.
From Maroondah Council School Focused Youth Service:
The Council has some upcoming activities happening locally that may be of interest to you and your family. If you would like to stay in the loop with what is happening in Maroondah, you can sign up to the Children and Families eNewsletter and the Maroondah City Council eNewsletter.
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Toast Tuesday
Our free Toast Tuesday program runs from 8:30am until start of school. Our second-hand uniform stock is also available for gold coin donations. We have a huge a stock of dresses, from size 4 up to 12, ready for the warmer weather, and for next year’s Prep students. Come and see us on Tuesday mornings, as well as at assembly every second Friday. We also have track pants, shorts and skorts. Do you have any polo shirts or jackets at home in good condition, that your children are not wearing anymore? We have a shortage of these items. Please bring them to the office so we can recycle them to other families. Thanks.
Contact: Feel free to email me, phone me or see me at school on my days listed below.
Alan Silverwood: Chaplain - Pastoral care for our community. [Tuesday, Friday]
[alan.silverwood@education.vic.gov.au] Supporting the School community in emotional, social, spiritual and practical wellbeing.
Our Chaplaincy program is funded by the Federal Government’s ‘National Student Wellbeing Program’, the GRPS School Council and donations.