One of the most common and harmful ways children hurt one another is through gossip.

Gossip is a form of social bullying. It can happen in person or online, and it often flies under the radar because it is disguised as conversation or curiosity.

Social bullying damages reputations and relationships. It can look like spreading rumors, encouraging others to exclude someone, sabotaging friendships, or quietly turning peers against a child.

Why Teaching Kids Not to Be an Audience Matters

One of the most effective ways to stop gossip is to stop giving it an audience.

When kids refuse to listen, gossip loses its power. The person initiating it often feels uncomfortable or embarrassed, and the behavior tends to stop.

This matters because children are often more influenced by peer reactions than by adult rules or lectures.

When peers show disinterest in gossip, it sends a strong message that this behavior is not valued.

Why Kids Gossip

Understanding why kids gossip helps adults respon...

Bullying can leave deep emotional and physical scars and sometimes parents don’t realize it’s happening until the damage is already severe.

Recently, a parent shared her story. She had no idea her child was being bullied consistently for over a year. By the time she discovered the truth, her child was experiencing panic attacks, insomnia, frequent illness, and extreme anxiety about attending school.

Even more heartbreaking, some teachers had been part of the bullying.

This story is a powerful reminder: parents must actively listen, observe, and ask the right questions to protect their children.

Why Hidden Bullying Can Go Unnoticed

Children often hide bullying for many reasons:

• Fear of retaliation or escalating the situation
• Feeling ashamed or embarrassed
• Not knowing how to explain the problem
• Assuming adults won’t understand or help

Parents may also misread early warning signs or downplay incidents, thinking they aren’t “serious enough.” Unfortunately, bullying can esc...

I try to be as involved as possible in my children’s lives. I do not accept short answers when I ask them how their day has gone. I try to have conversations with them to know what’s really been going on in their lives, but it's not always so easy. 

They are in their teens and sometimes, sharing about their lives is NOT something they're interested in doing.

Try A Different Approach

Since kids can be really stubborn about opening up, I've had to learn when to leave them alone and when to get them to engage without them realizing that they're doing it. 

It has to be subtle and all about them!

For example, this morning, my younger child was very cranky and didn't want to talk. As I drove her to school, I asked her if she knew what was making her feel cranky. Of course, she gave me the usual teen answer, "I dunno". 

Since I didn't want her to go off to school feeling down, I started telling her that I imagine that if her favorite stuffed animal were to come alive as all the toys did...