I admire the cheerful, firm, and respectful way the adults intervene in this video to help the child learn the needed social skills. They don’t ignore it. They don’t get annoyed. They don’t scold or shame. They firmly and politely show and tell the child what to do and say.

In Montessori we would make it one step better, adding a further element of respect and civility. We would show the whole community, instead of the individual child, what to do and say. And we would do so at a separate moment to spare the child’s dignity and self-respect. We would elevate the intervention by making it indirect, an invitation for the community’s social advancement through instructive and interactive role play.

Then we would have a delightful model to refer to when a child needs an intervention – “Remember how we…”

 

Watch the Bullying Video on YouTube