When Nicknames Become Nicknames – You Help Your Children

Children often use nicknames without any negative intent, but sometimes these nicknames can become nicknames and make a child feel bullied. In most cases, these names try to highlight some physical attribute or trait, but they can hurt and offend the recipient. There are also children who use them just to tease and have fun at the expense of the other. When this happens continuously, it can develop into bullying.

What consequences can nicknames have for children? When do nicknames become nicknames? And when does it turn into bullying? What can be done in this situation? Keep reading to find out more.

Consequences of children giving each other nicknames and nicknames

Although these names are in principle not intended to cause bullying or hurt the other, they often have negative consequences. This can escalate and go further if you do not intervene at an early stage.

Some of these consequences can be:

• Poor school results. The child with the nickname that has become a nickname finds himself the subject of jokes and the other children’s negative attention. He or she may lose interest in studying or not want to go to school at all.
• Low self-esteem. A nickname or nickname puts a label on the child and it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. That is, the child takes it as his identity. This can be a reason why children begin to create a distorted and negative image of themselves.
• Passive attitude towards the harassment. The child no longer cares about anything or anyone else. They take a passive attitude towards everything and everyone.

• Bullying can lead to depression. Children who feel really bad stop wanting to do things and lose interest in everything they previously liked. They do not trust anyone and do not dare to talk about what is happening. They may stop eating or, conversely, start eating too much and they do not want to go outside the home.
• Phobias can occur. Phobia of leaving home or going to school. An exaggerated fear of almost everything.
• Sleeping problems. Nightmares, night terrors, insomnia, etc.

When does it cross the line into bullying?

Many cases of bullying go unnoticed by the adults in the area. In many cases, we do not realize that some nicknames have become nicknames. This is because it is difficult to distinguish between a friendly nickname and a hurtful nickname.

When children use nicknames in social interactions, they learn to take constructive criticism and deal with it. Normally, when used to joke with a friend, it is more tender and received by the other in a positive way. In this case, there is no harassment, as the children use the name as a form of communication in their circle of friends. Situations like this are not harmful.

Things change and become a problem when the name is no longer a form of communication. When one or more children use it to hurt . They do it to make the “victim” feel bad and give the bully more power.

How can you distinguish between a nickname and a nickname?

• If a child uses a nickname in a joke that is nasty and it upsets the recipient, he or she usually stops using it. In this case, the nickname is just for fun.
• If, on the other hand, the child continues to use the name and the intention is to hurt the recipient, it is no longer a joke and becomes bullying.

What can we do in this situation?

Nowadays, social media is widespread and bullying can often take place on these platforms. It is difficult for parents to prevent children from calling each other derogatory names and epithets.

We can not control or change their behavior, but what we can do is teach our children to change how they react to these nicknames so that “jokers” no longer think it’s fun. Let’s take a closer look at some things we can do.

Communicate more with our children

Communicating with your children is crucial. Ask them questions to find out what their situation looks like, for example:

• Who gave you the name?
• What do you think about it?
• Why do you think you got that name?
• Have you told them you do not like that they call you that?
• How do you respond when they use the name?

With these questions, we know if the nickname is part of a joke in the team of good friends or a nickname.

Tell them they are special and unique

We are all different and unique. No one is better than any other person, neither for what they have nor for what they are.

Teach them to be confident

When they are called by name, they must be confident and not show that they let it affect them. They also need mental strength to tell their peers that they do not like it and tell them not to use it. They should not raise their voices, but still use a tone that is determined.

Encourage them to ask for help

If, despite using these strategies, it continues, your children need to know that we will help them and that they can trust us.

Help them build their self-esteem

Most nicknames highlight something special about a physical aspect of the person. It can also highlight a trait that the child has. Therefore, it is important that we get young children to understand that their personal qualities and traits are what make them unique and special.  This is a way to help them strengthen their self-esteem.

Nicknames and nicknames among children

Now you know how names in children can develop into bullying. You also know what we as parents can do to improve this situation and assess whether it is part of a normal peer relationship or something more harmful.

It is very important to be aware of any changes in our child’s behavior that may indicate that something is wrong. Above all, we need to communicate with them in order to help them.