[quote=FlyerInHi]njtosd, the first two things, society doesn’t like, but we’re not supposed to show disapprobation in polite settings.

I think she said “take a hike, we don’t want to play with you”.

My brother took the opportunity to teach her to be tough and not come crying at every hurt feeling…. it’s normal part of life to get feelings hurt.

Whatever happened to “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words….. “[/quote]

Hmm. Maybe your niece should have spoken for herself – i.e. “you don’t treat me nicely and I don’t want to play with you”. The kids who say “we don’t want to play with you” sound a little more like they want to gang up on unpopular kids – and that’s never a good thing. Not sure what your brother was trying to teach her on that one.

The sticks and stones thing is fine for teaching self confidence, but we should also be teaching kids to treat each other with consideration.