How To Help A Child Overcome Bullying
The prevalence of bullying is hard to ignore. Research indicates between twenty-five and thirty-three percent of children ages twelve to eighteen have experienced some form of bullying. Bullying should never be dismissed as simply 'kids being kids,' as it can have significant long-term consequences for victims, leading to loneliness, low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. Children who are bullied often suffer academically and socially due to the stress caused by bullying. Bullied children may try to avoid the activities where the bullying occurs, leading to decreased school and social participation. If your child is a victim of bullying, there are several steps you can take as a parent to work through the situation with them. Let's review these steps now!
Learn About The Situation
If you suspect your child is being bullied, first do what you can to understand the situation. Bullying typically happens when adults are not around, or when witnesses who are likely to speak up are not present. Many bullied children may be hesitant to speak up out of fear or embarrassment. It is important to get as many facts as possible, so encourage open and honest communication with your child. Try to learn about the situation from as many sources as possible, including your child, friends, or other trusted adults. Do not rush to judgment until you have had time to learn about the situation.
Continue reading to learn about self-expression and how it's key to dealing with bullying.
Encourage Your Child To Express Themselves
Open communication with your child is key to understanding and dealing with a bullying problem. Encourage your child to express themselves so you can gain a full understanding of the situation. Your child should feel comfortable talking about the problem and how it makes them feel. You are your child’s ally in overcoming the bullying, and they need your encouragement. Allow your child to process their feelings and talk through the situation when they are comfortable. Provide an understanding ear, and ask them how you can help. If they need more help than you can offer, a counselor can be a valuable resource.
The way in which a victim responds to bullying is crucial. Read on to reveal how to teach this to your child.
Teach Your Child How To Respond
As you and your child work through the bullying problem together, it is crucial teach them how to respond to bullying. Never encourage your child to fight back physically, as they could get hurt or in serious trouble. Make sure they know which adults to reach out to if bullying occurs. Adults such as a teacher, principal, school counselor or bus driver can all help handle bullying situations. Encourage your child to implement the buddy system and surround themselves with friends. Teach your child to walk away from a bullying situation calmly, rather than letting the bully get a reaction out them. This tactic does not mean the bullying should be ignored, as all bullying should be reported and dealt with, but it does give a sense of power back to your child.
Contacting the appropriate authorities is often a key part of dealing with bullying. Read on to determine which route to take.
Contact The Right Authorities
If a crime has been committed or someone is in immediate danger due to bullying, contact the authorities or dial 911. When bullying occurs during school hours or on school property, promptly contact the right authorities, starting with your child’s teacher and principal. You can also contact the school counselor and district superintendent. If bullying occurs on the bus, also be sure to contact the district transportation officials and your child’s bus driver. Each state addresses bullying in its own laws and educational policies. You can contact your state’s Department of Education to find out more about anti-bullying laws in your state. If you feel your school is not handling bullying appropriately, the Department of Education in your state is another resource you can use.
Don't let bullying take your child down. Learn more about this on the next slide.
Boost Your Child's Self-Confidence
Bullying can be detrimental to a victim’s self-esteem. Thankfully, there are many things parents can do to boost their child's self-confidence. First, remind your child the bullying was not their fault and encourage your child to spend time with close friends who love and support them. Support your child’s interests and hobbies. For instance, they may excel at sports, music, or drama, so encourage these activities to boost self-confidence. Help your child find what they are good at, and give them a chance to build those skills and really shine. The negative impacts of the bullying will be reduced if your child has a social network where they feel valued and included. If your child is lonely, help them find an extracurricular or community activity where they can start to build a social group.