Grab Bullies by the Horns
Don't let bouts with bullies leave lasting marks on your child.
All forms of bullying from taunting and hitting, to peer exclusion and rumor spreading, can cause long-lasting damage to the physical and emotional health of all children involved, according to a recent study. Talk with your kids about the dangers of bullying and encourage them to tell you, a teacher, or another adult if they experience or witness bullying.
Taking extra steps can help your child avoid serious health consequences, such as obesity.
Bullying occurs once every 7 minutes, and over half of all school-aged children have been bullied. Unfortunately, most bullying goes unnoticed and unreported. Share the journal articles below with other parents and school decision makers and encourage them to start a peer mediation program in which staff and students learn to resolve conflict.
If Your Child Is the Bully
Encourage your child to talk about his or her behavior without blaming others and help your child find ways to interact with other children without hurting or intimidating someone. Encourage communication among family members and help your child develop the language skills necessary to relate appropriately to other children. If attempts to handle the situation on your own fail, seek professional counseling for your child and your family.
If Your Child Is Bullied
Standing up to a bully can be effective. Work with your child to develop coping techniques to use when facing a bully, and make sure your child knows to tell an adult when threatened in any way by peers. Explain to your child that he or she has a right to feel safe. Bullies tend to stay away from groups, preferring to target solitary kids. If making friends is difficult for your child, suggest joining a club or becoming involved in group activities. Your child will find friends with similar interests as well as safety in numbers.
If Your Child Is a Bystander
Talk to your child about reducing bullying by treating others with courtesy and respect and striving to make everyone feel welcome. Teach your child to report incidents of teasing, harassment, intimidation, or exclusion immediately to an adult.
