Parents handling bullying the wrong way. For some, they are setting up fights between their children and kids that were bullying them at school.
A case in Philadelphia, now followed by another in York.
CBS 21 spoke to Dauphin County’s Chief Deputy District Attorney about these shocking incidents.
Startling, shocking and just a flat out terrible method of parenting. Fortunately, it is not common.
Dealing with bullies, a child psychologist tells us, often times can be just as trying on the parent as the kid who’s getting picked on.
But encouraging your children to fight is not the way to handle it.
A cell phone camera captures a Philadelphia mom telling her 12-year old daughter to attack another girl who had been bullying her.
That woman is now facing simple assault charges.
“Nothing good can come of this,” chief Deputy District Attorney Sean McCormack stated. “The parent is the grown up and they have to act like it.”
Last month, an eerily similar situation occurred in downtown York.
Ana Diaz-Lopez now facing reckless endangerment charges for setting up a fight between her 13-year-old daughter and another female student.
“I would call it child endangerment not only for the child that's being beat up but for your own child,” explained McCormack.
Local child psychologist Risa Van Fleet suggested a few things parents can do if faced with bullying.
Number one is to control your feelings, it’s not about you.
Get your kid’s take on handling the situation and let them get it off their chest.
If it happened at school, call the school, it’s important they know what’s going on.
“Bullying is a hard situation,” McCormack told CBS 21. “To deal with, no easy answers but getting your child to pick a fight is not one of the answers you should be seeking.”
For parents asking why is my kid being picked on? It is recommended you go to school officials. Usually there is something that’s making them stand out, good or bad.
Even in good households not every child learns characteristics of good self-esteem.
