Peers Provoking Classroom Drama? Keeping Your Kids Out of It

Are your kids' experiences at school starting to sound like reality TV? Are they surrounded by the kings and queens of classroom drama? How can you keep them out of the craziness? What if the drama centers around them? How do you keep your kids calm and rational in a classroom gone mad with drama, jealousy, and rumors? Try these tips.

Set the bar high. If I've said it once; I've said it a million times: good parents drop the drama. Children live by the example you portray. If someone's always getting on your last nerve; If you are judgmental, demeaning, and just plain think you know everything, guess who's going to pick up those habits? Want kids to drop the drama? Set the bar high with your own actions.

Teach them well. Kids who are taught the dangers of drama stay away from it. You know what happens as a result of gossip and hearsay. Make certain your kids know it too. Do so by having set consequences for dramatic behavior. Make your consequences as close to real life results as possible. Don't dole out punishments with angry resentment. Discipline for the right reasons.

Run a calm household. The more drama free your home life is, the less likely your kids will engage in dramatic behavior. Spend time getting to know each other. Make your home a place of refuge, not a battle zone. Agree to disagree on sensitive subjects. Why waste time arguing futile points when you could be enjoying each others company?

Tolerate absolutely no drama from kids at home. Don't give in to whining, begging, or manipulation. Don't respond to angry words with a dramatic spiel. Do nothing to further the drama. Respond to anger with calm, clear reasoning. If you must make a point, do it with the best intentions for all concerned. Be the grown up so your kids can see how they're expected to behave.

Form an alliance. It's tough to resist drama in the classroom. Kids popularity often rests on being a joiner. Unfortunately, the activities they are expected to join in on, aren't always positive. Not sure how to help your kids resist classroom drama? Get together with school staff to build a drama free zone for kids. Parents and teachers can share and implement ideas for eliminating classroom drama.

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