|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
Bullying:
How a Parent Can Help
Bullying
is an enormous problem in our schools. The impact of
being bullied carries on far into adulthood. It is not
something that you can just ignore and hope will go away.
Many people think that kids need to get a thicker skin or
toughen up; perhaps, these people have never been through
the experience of being bullied. Kids have been known
to get physically sick, refuse to go to school, have anxiety
attacks, depression, suicidal and homicidal thoughts, all
from bullying. As a parent what can you do for your
child that is being bullied?
|
|
| |
advertisement
|
|
| |
First
of all, it is not your child’s fault that they are being bullied.
Bullies target kids for many reasons. It is important
that you talk to your child about being bullied and respond
to his/her needs. Ask your child what you can do to
help? Sometimes kids are afraid to talk to their parents
about this. They are often afraid getting their parents
involved will make the situation worse. Or they think
their parents will not care. Do not wait for your child
to come to you about being bullied. If you notice signs
such as frequently getting sick, not wanting to go to school,
depression, aggression, or fits of anger or crying, your child
may be having problems with a bully. Listen to your
child about how he/she is feeling and work on a plan together
on what to do about this.
Some
strategies for handling bullies
- Ensure
that your child’s school has a program for handling bullies.
If they do not have an anti bullying program encourage
them to start one. If your school does not take
your concerns seriously, talk to other parents, start
petitions, or write letters to your state representatives.
Parents can make a difference in how our schools handle
bullies.
- Bullies
often work in groups. This is the reason that they
often get away with their behavior. Your child’s
peers may be bothered by the way that he/she is getting
treated but ignore the situation for fear of being bullied
too. Encourage your school to incorporate this into
their anti bullying plan. Teaching kids how bullies
work and how to help someone who is being bullied should
be part of any good anti-bullying program.
- Help
your child find a support system at school. Having
a support system builds self-confidence and also keeps
bullies away. Bullies usually will not take on an
entire group of children but rather wait till a child
is alone.
- Pick
your child up from school or change the school bus route
they ride on. Bullying often happens on school buses
or on the walk home from school. It is much more
difficult for schools to enforce bullying problems off
of school property.
- If
it is possible, you can try switching classrooms, switching
the setting that your child is in, or in extreme cases
switching schools. Sometimes once your child has
been a victim of bullying other bullies will follow suit.
Once a child has been singled out in a school it is sometimes
hard for him/her to rebound. Of course, this is
something you would want to talk to your child about first.
Sometimes a fresh start in a new setting is all it takes.
Hopefully
by talking to your child and your school system you can find
a solution to handling your child’s bullying situation.
|
Other articles you may like |
|
Fortify
Sensitive Kids
Many sensitive children have at least one sensitive
parent.
“Mom,
Am I Fat?” - Conversations That Could Save Your
Child’s Life
Eating disorder prevention starts with a parent’s
willingness to listen...
What
steps should I take to prepare my child for the beginning
of the school year?
The start of the school year can stir anxieties for
both child and parent.
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
