Parent Resources

This is a two part series for Bullying Prevention Month. Part one was released Wednesday the 19th.

Children might not always speak up when they are being bullied. Ripped clothing, reluctance to go to school, a reduction in food, nightmares, sobbing, or general despair and anxiety are all warning signs. Do not tell your child to “let it go” or “suck it up” if you find out they are being bullied. Instead, engage in open-ended discussions to find out what is actually happening at school so that you may take the necessary action to make things right. Above all else, let your youngster know you’ll be there for them and that they should strive not to strike back.

Work together with your child to help them deal with bullying without succumbing to it or losing hope until something can be done on an administrative level. Practice bullying scenarios with your kid at home to help them learn to ignore bullies and/or to use assertive coping mechanisms. If your kid is concerned about being bullied, help them find teachers and friends who can support them.

Teach your children not to react to or forward dangerous emails and educate yourself and your kids on cyberbullying. Add your youngster as a “friend” on Facebook and other social networking sites, and install appropriate computer filters. Make the family computer the sole computer available to kids, and keep it in a prominent, public area of the house where it can be seen. Think twice before letting your youngster use the camera feature of a cell phone if you decide to give them one. Tell them you’ll be keeping an eye on their text messages. To stop midnight bullying and improper messages, as a parent, you may mandate that phones be put away in a common location, like the kitchen, by a specific time at night.

Inform your kids about bullying. It’s conceivable that your youngster struggles to interpret social cues and is unaware of how their behavior is unpleasant. Remind your youngster that harassing others may result in legal repercussions.

Parents teach their children how to behave. Children are more likely to harass at school when they are exposed to violent conduct or an extremely tight atmosphere at home. Parents and caregivers should provide a good example for their children in how you interact with others and with them.

Bullying is frequently used by kids who lack self-esteem to boost their self-esteem. Even kids who appear liked and popular might have cruel inclinations. Parents should address and reprimand their children’s harsh behavior.

Bullying victims may endure stress, depression, or anxiety. A mental health specialist, such as a psychologist, can assist your kid in building resilience and confidence if bullying is causing them problems at school or with friends. Your child will be better equipped to succeed socially and intellectually as a result.

*adapted from APA article at https://www.apa.org/topics/bullying/prevent

This will be a two part series for Bullying Prevention Month. Part two will be released next Wednesday the 26th.

Bullying is a form of purposeful aggression characterized by a disparity in strength or power. It is a pattern of behavior that might be physical, verbal, or interpersonal in nature. Girls frequently abuse people through social exclusion, but boys may use more aggressive physical tactics. Bullying has always been a problem in schools and even workplaces. But more recently, bullying has found a new home thanks to technology and social media, broadening its reach. Bullying that occurs online and on mobile devices is referred to as cyberbullying. Kids can send harsh, continuous messages to other kids throughout the clock on websites like YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat. Messages can be left anonymously on some websites, like Instagram.

It takes dedication to establishing a secure atmosphere where kids can grow academically and socially in order to prevent and end bullying. The American Psychological Association suggests the following measures be taken to combat bullying.

Although bullying typically occurs in places like the restroom, playground, busy halls, school buses, as well as via cell phones and computers (where monitoring is spotty or nonexistent), teachers and administrators need to be aware that it must be addressed seriously. The distinction between telling and tattling should be emphasized by educators and authorities. If a teacher notices bullying occurring in a class, he or she must act quickly to put an end to it, document the situation, and alert the relevant school officials so the issue may be looked into. Joint meetings between the bullied student and the bully are not advised since they can be humiliating and scary for the victim student.

Parents and students must participate in safety teams and antibullying task groups in order to help find a solution. Adults can learn from students about what is actually happening as well as about new technology that children are utilizing to bully others. Students can learn strategies to behave positively and to intervene when bullying happens with the aid of their parents, teachers, and school administration. Older pupils can mentor younger kids and teach them online safety precautions.

Students must have access to a secure learning environment in schools and classrooms. Students need to be explicitly reminded by their teachers and coaches that bullying is not permitted in the classroom and that doing so will result in penalties. Students are helped by creating an antibullying document that they must sign along with their parents or guardians and give in to the school office. Additionally, in order to prevent children from feeling lonely or in danger of becoming targets for bullying, teachers and administrators can help students who are having a hard time adjusting or making friends by facilitating friendships or by giving them “things” to do during lunch and recess.

*adapted from APA article at https://www.apa.org/topics/bullying/prevent