“Kids can be mean. Really mean.” Those words from a sixth grader prompted Dr. Scott to issue this announcement as a public service.

Whether it’s a woman’s crown or a young girl’s tiara, a cute hairstyle matters. No one is fond of a bad hair day, but for children, even as early as seven years old, appearance begins to take on new meaning.

A bad hair day can lead to all sorts of other things, from mood swings, questions from supervisors (in the case of an adult) or teachers (in the case of students), especially for school-rule violations. Worse yet, it can lead to bullying.

In this episode, Dr. Scott shares an experience with a middle school student who was willing to risk disciplinary measures to shield her hair from public ridicule.

Mean kids often grow up to be mean adults. If not checked, we run into a litany of problems. Using other humans to find humor in our day is not okay. Personal attacks based on one’s physical, often unalterable appearance (or features) are not okay.

Dr. Scott reminds us that telling a child, “You don’t have problems; wait ‘til you get grown” does not solve the very real challenges kids face every day. Their bodies and souls can only withstand so much. Let’s not trivialize those experiences.