[From 23 Symptoms of Bullying]

In the previous article, you have learnt how to recognise the symptoms of bullying.

However, if you find out that your child has really been bullied in school, how are you going to deal with the whole matter?

Many students and even parents do not know what to do when they encounter such a problem.

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Hence, this article will explore various tips in which parents and students can utilise to resolve the matter peacefully.

It will also illustrate the various steps in which students can take to improve themselves so that they do not become an easy target for bullies in future.

 

Tips For Parents To Counter Bullying

#1 Provide comfort and reassurance

Your child will often be reluctant to reveal to you that he/she is getting bullied.

Hence, when your child finally decides to reveal to you that he/she is getting bullied, praise him/ her for doing the right thing by confiding with you.

Explain to your child that this is part of growing up and a lot of people get bullied at some point.

Highlight to your child that the fault does not lie with him/ her but with the bully.

Lastly, provide reassurance that he/ she is not alone and you will resolve the issue.

#2 Understand that there is no one-size-fits all approach

Upon finding out that your child has been bullied, being parents, you will definitely feel angry and upset with the bully.

However, learn to control your emotions and not take things into your own hands by confronting the bully.

There are many examples of bullying which are of different magnitude.

Different approaches have to be used in different contexts based on the severity of the issue and the age of the kids involved.

For example, you will not want to complain to the bully’s parents if the issue is too small.

Hence, you should find out more about the specific details of the issue from your child before deciding the best course of action.

#3 Seek support from teachers if school rules are broken

If you find out that the bully has went overboard and broke some of the school rules, let the teachers in the school know about the situation.

They are in a better position to monitor and take appropriate steps to prevent further problems.

#4 Speak to the bully’s parents if necessary

If the case of bullying is extremely serious and has gotten physical, inform the school immediately.

However, if the matter still persists, speak to the parents of the bully.

Try to do it in the presence of a school official because it is important to let the school know what is going on.

#5 Contact legal authorities as a last resort

Hopefully things do not come to this stage but if nothing is changed after you have done the aforementioned 4 steps, contact the legal authorities.

Tips For Parents To Counter Bullying

#1 Speak to the bully

If you are not afraid of the bully, learn to speak up for yourself.

Tell the bully that you are feeling upset by his/ her actions and demand that he/she stops immediately otherwise you will be left with no choice but to complain to the teacher.

Complain to your teacher if the bully refuses to relent. Do not be afraid of the bully calling you a coward for doing so.

Remember, the bully’s fear for higher authority is greater than your fear for him /her.

#2 Do not respond with violence

It is inevitable to feel angry when you get bullied.

However, learn to control your emotions and not use violence to resolve the matter.

Always remember that two wrongs do not make a right!

#3 Do not self-reproach

The bully will often make you feel lousy or weak.

Do not blame yourself. Bullies sometimes have no reason to bully others.

It is not your fault that you have been picked on.

#4 Tell your parents

If you are afraid to confront the bully yourself, find someone you trust such as your parents and tell them your predicament.

The person you tell will be able to help you deal with the matter better.

This is because when a person is afraid, he/she will not be able to do the sensible thing as fear will cloud his/her thinking.

#5 Tell your teacher

If you realise that the bully has crossed the line and violated some school rules, complain to your teachers.

You do not have to be afraid of any consequences.

School rules are there for a reason so always remember that you are protected by them.

Tips for children to prevent bullying in future

Bullies are cowards who selectively choose their victims.

Trends have shown that bullies often pick on those with weaker character. This is because these people will provide less resistance to the bullies.

Hence, to prevent yourself from being an easy target, you should make adjustments to your character. Try to be more

  1. Confident – If you are confident, you will give others the impression that you are in control of everything. Therefore, bullies will think twice about trampling over you.
  2. Have a higher self-esteem – If you do not respect yourself, how do you expect others to respect you?
  3. Assertive – By showing others that you are a firm person, you give people the impression that you fight for what you think is right and will not succumb to the fate of getting bullied.
  4. Sociable – Bullies often pick on those who have very few friends. If you have a group of friends who supports you, bullies will avoid picking on you.

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