What is the difference between reporting and tattling

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This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience possible. Accepting the use of cookies enables important site functionality including personalization and analytics. Role play. If you are having trouble making the difference between reporting and tattling clear, try acting out different scenarios.

For example, role play a situation where a child is calling another child a mean name. See how the child you are role-playing with reacts and guide them through the hypothetical scenario. Remind children about the difference.

You should not expect children to immediately and fully understand the difference between telling and tattling. If the child still tattles, gently remind them why they are tattling and how to solve the problem on their own next time. Over time, the child will learn when they are coming to you with a problem that they can't solve on their own.

Part 3. Ask to speak privately with an adult. Teach the child how to speak to an adult when they think there is a problem. They should know that it is not appropriate to loudly tell on someone in the middle of class. Tell the child to politely ask to speak to an adult privately. From there, tell them how to calmly explain the situation and ask for help.

For example, a teacher or friend's parent is okay to approach, but it is not okay to walk up to a stranger. If there is immediate danger, tell the child that it is okay to tell the nearest adult what is happening.

Figure out what you can do to solve the problem. Teach your child to stop and assess the problem before coming to an adult. If there is danger, like someone is hurt, then the child should immediately find help. When danger isn't present, the child should take a moment to figure out if they can solve the problem without the help of an adult.

Let the child know that they can express their concerns. Stress to the child that it is okay to come to you if they aren't confident about handling the problem on their own. Even if the child thinks the situation isn't dangerous, tell them that it is okay to come to you with their concerns.

It isn't tattling or telling—it is simply getting help trying to solve the problem. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If there are varying reports about an incident, investigate the situations by yourself. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Do not punish a child for tattling unless you are sure that they were tattling and not telling.

You shouldn't discourage children to come to you when they think there is a problem. Stress that the child should follow their intuition when it comes to tattling and telling. Related wikiHows How to. How to. More References 7. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: 4. Updated: September 6, Categories: Teaching Children Skills.

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 7, times. Did this article help you? Yes No. Tattling on the other hand is when a child wants to get someone else in trouble or they want to avoid blame. Tattling is simply trying to get someone else in trouble.

As the saying goes, there are three types of people in this world: those who like to talk about ideas, those who talk about events, and those who like to talk about other people.

See, motherhood is lonely, and she was my only confidant who I could turn to vent.