Is there anything a parent can do about relational bullying?

Relational bullying or relational aggression is the intention to harm others through deliberate manipulation of their social standing and relationships. For example: spreading rumors about someone so others won't like them or asking someone to join their group and then at the last minute excluding them. If you are on good terms with the parent of the child doing the bullying is it ok to talk to that parent about it?

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REMsleep · 41-45, F

It depends. You will never protect your child totally from this type of stuff so a good deal of the action needs to be with how your child is taught to deal with it.
This is a great time to learn a life long lesson about relationships skills and inner strength, handling hard situations.
Mostly if you get invovled in this type of catty child's play you will be seen as overprotective and your child will get the worst of it from his or her peers later on.
I say all this without knowing details.

morrgin · F

@REMsleep she was friends with the girl in 5th grade and they played all through the summer together. Then today was the second day of middle school and her friend told my daughter she couldn't sit with her at lunch. My daughter couldn't find anywhere else to sit so she cried and a teacher came and had her eat lunch in the classroom. Then the so called friend kept asking my daughter repeatedly to sit with her on the bus ride home. Then her friend sat with someone else and ignored her.
I can't make this girl be my daughter's friend again. I dont believe in making anyone be around someone they don't want to be around. The girl doesn't have to be intentionally cruel though.