Tip 3 No Name Calling
Provided by the Safe Schools Unit, San Diego County Office of Education

Students:

• Don't engage in name calling-empathize
  
• Don't underestimate the effect and response of name calling, it can evoke violence at any time
  
• If someone calls you a name, don't respond, don't react to the name caller
  
• If someone calls you a name, share the incident and your feelings with parents or an adult you can trust-especially if the name calling makes you sad or angry
  
• Find a positive way to diffuse your anger, like sports and music
  
• Remember name calling can mean a lack of self respect in the "name caller" ..and remember your self worth

Parents:

• Don't name call or label people, modeling is the most powerful teacher
  
• Encourage values of tolerance and acceptance
  
• Make sure your child understands name calling can evoke violence at any time
  
• If your child is name calling, seek help---it's a signal your child may be seeking negative attention
  
• Find alternative ways your child can receive positive attention and praise him/her for positive acts
  
• Help build your child's self esteem
  
• If your child is the target of name calling, acknowledge and discuss his/her feelings and reassure your child's value and worth
  
• Help your child diffuse anger in a positive way like sports, art, music
  
• Get to know your child's friends and support your child by encouraging him/her to extend invitations for good friends to play at your home or attend activities

School:

• Create programs and resources to encourage respectful behaviors
• Educate students about the dangerous effects of name calling
• Teach classes on tolerance and acceptance
• Provide social activities for students to get together and have fun