Split lip - bullying or rough and tumble?

I do agree with your comment that ignoring it is not fair to either child. Children who bully are often very sad and insecure and in need of help themselves. He may simply not be able to handle the fact that your DGS has found himself some different friends. The fact that it is not an isolated incident is an important factor here.

I am sure that this can be dealt with tactfully by the school, who will have the well-being of both children in mind. I hope you manage to achieve some resolution of this.

I don't think a swollen mouth, a graze on the lip and a split on the inside of the lip are minor injuries.
I think at the very least the school should have suggested that your DGS was taken to the dentist or doctor to make sure that no teeth had been broken or loosened, whether or not they think the other child was responsible.
It sounds to me as though they don't want to admit that bullying is going on.

I would certainly raise the matter with the teacher, but like Luckygirl I do think that both the bullied AND the bully need help in these situations.

I had my 6 year old grandson to stay this weekend; he also arrived with a fat lip gained at school on Friday. Apparently the boys were playing a game in the playground called 'Boomph', which involves barging into each other with arms folded - a split lip is a fair price to pay for the winner it seems, although as the other boy involved also had a fat lip I think it was a draw.

Thanks Luckygirl; janeainesworth and grannyactivist.

Luckygirl yes I do have some sympathy for the child. I think he does need help.

janeainesworth it's a very good point about his teeth. I was just grateful he hadn't lost one, but I will remind DD to get them checked out, thanks.

grannyactivist Exactly, boys will be boys!! Boomph sounds like just the sort of playground game my own son would have loved. He was the complete opposite to my DGS. DS would often turn up with daft injuries that would take interrogation to find out what he had done. He once cut his tongue with scissors trying to get the last bit of sherbet out of a sherbet dip (while it was in his mouth!!) and he would have been about 9 at the time.

It's good to read that you're going in to school with your daughter Lyndylou. I agree with the comments about this not being a minor injury and the fact that if your grandson and his friend are giving a more accurate description of what happened than the other boy, he also needs some active involvement to help him manage his feelings and curb this behaviour.

I think you should bring it up at your meeting. I know children do have tiffs but this seems a little more than high spirits . Just think what could happen if this boy pushes someone and they hit their face or head on concrete .
I think a firm word from the Teacher about what could happen as a result of `pushing` may be all that is needed .

I think you need to raise the issue. In the playground children are sometimes supervised by teaching assistants who are lovely but sometimes just want things to go well. Your GSs teacher may just have accepted events as they were reported to her. She might appreciate you giving her the real version of events.

Hi Iam64 we raised the issue with the teacher today. She is going to talk to all 3 children and make a record. I'm glad we have raised it. Hopefully this will be a turning point and he will get the help he need.

Thanks trisher and f77ms. I'm grateful to everyone whose taken the time to make a comment. It's never nice to "run to teacher" even at 64, but I glad we have at least got it on record now.