How best to help bullied niece

DEAR AMY: My beautiful 11-year-old niece is being bullied at school. She is very petite, so other children make fun of her size. Yesterday this teasing escalated to the point where a fellow student told her she was going to be beaten up. My niece has talked to the teachers and school counselor, but now she has the reputation of being a snitch, so she doesn't want to take that route again. She gets knots in her stomach and a headache every school day. Her parents, my husband and I are at a loss. How we can help her?Worried Aunt

DEAR AUNT: Your niece's parents should be all over this issue with the school. The child who made this threat should be dealt with (and the child's parents should be called in).

Your niece did the right thing by taking this to adults at school, and now the other adults in her life should rally behind her.

You and her parents can encourage your niece to get involved in activities to bolster her self-esteem. Dance, gymnastics, swimming and other sports can help her feel strong despite her size. These activities will also introduce her to other kids outside the classroom.

Academic teams, the Girl Scouts, music and theater will help her feel more confident.

Ask her to describe her feelings and review strategies for dealing with them.

Friendship is an ideal antidote to bullying. Help foster friendships at and outside of school.

DEAR AMY: "Mother of the Groom" was wondering how to dance with her son at his wedding because she uses a wheelchair. I was a bride with a father whose physical mobility is compromised. The "traditional" father-daughter dance was out of the question. My brother graciously agreed to dance with me on my wedding day, and my father couldn't have been prouder as he looked on.Been There Bride in Wis.

DEAR BRIDE: Lovely!