“Bullying” — the word is often frightening to parents. Whether it’s a child who is the object of bullies, sees others being bullied, or a child who is doing the bullying, parents are left as to how to address the issue.
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers several tips to parents about how to handle and address this issue with their children, schools and others.
Bullying or cyberbullying is when one child picks on another child repeatedly. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or social. It can happen at school, on the playground, on the school bus, in the neighborhood, over the Internet, or through mobile devices like cell phones.
- When your child is the one being bullied:
Alert school officials to the problems and work with them on solutions.
Teach your child when and how to ask a trusted adult for help.
Recognize the serious nature of bullying and acknowledge your child’s feelings about being bullied.
Help your child learn how to respond by teaching your child how to:
- Look the bully in the eye.
- Stand tall and stay calm in a difficult situation.
- Walk away
- Teach your child how to say in a firm voice.
- “I don’t like what you are doing.”
- “Do not talk to me like that.”
- “Why would you say that?”
Encourage your child to make friends with other children. Support activities that interest your child.
Make sure an adult who knows about the bullying can watch out for your child’s safety and well-being when you cannot be there.
Monitor your child’s social media or texting interactions so you can identify problems before they get out of hand.
- When your child is the bully:
Be sure your child knows that bullying is never OK. Set firm and consistent limits on your child’s aggressive behavior.
Be a positive role mode. Show children they can get what they want without teasing, threatening or hurting someone.
Use effective, non-physical discipline, such as loss of privileges. Develop practical solutions with the school principal, teachers, school social workers or psychologists, and parents of the children your child has bullied.
- When your child is a bystander
Encourage your child to tell a trusted adult about the bullying.
Encourage your child to join with others in telling bullies to stop.
Help your child support other children who may be bullied. Encourage your child to include these children in activities.
