[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Bullying is an intended act towards another vocally, physically or emotionally. Children experiencing bullying find it hard to tell what they are experiencing as they fear that if the bully finds out, they might be in trouble. The child may also be afraid that the parent will be ashamed of the situation and do nothing; hence lack trust in them. They might be afraid to take the bus to school, not eat well, sleep well, become nervous or get withdrawn. When this happens, assist the child not to get into more serious problems with the bully.
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- Talk to the Child
Children might not talk about what they are going through immediately and might experience insecurity, anger or sadness. After first learning that the child is undergoing bullying, first talk to him or her about bullying. In the process, be ready to talk to them without judgment and provide them with a safe environment they can express and work out their feelings.
- Support the Child
After listening to what they are going through, empower them. Have a conversation with the child about how you can help him or her deal with bullying and share with them the strategies they can use. Ensure that the plan aligns appropriately with the strengths and abilities of the child. Consequently, the child is able to build up on their self-esteem and resilience.
- Teach the Child how to React
Bullies like bullying children they can easily tease and upset. Besides, they target children who cannot defend themselves; children who are either smaller than them in age or body size. It is vital that a child is taught how to counter these bullies. Let the child know that:
- It is possible to stand up against bullying
- He or she should ignore the bully
- It is not appropriate to take matters into their own hands
- Develop a plan to involve other people
While developing the action plan, it is important to involve other parties as well. For example, decide upon who to include at school, how they will be involved and what they will be expected to do. Additionally, you can seek the assistance of a guidance counsellor for advice. If the matters get out of hand, it is advisable to seek the help of local law enforcement.
In sum, bullying hurts children and can lead to long-term mental health problems. It is essential to talk to children about bullying and how to deal with it. Children need to be comfortable to approach teachers and parents and be free to talk about what they are going.
[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”References” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23704825″ google_fonts=”font_family:Salsa%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Lyness, D. (Ed.). (2013). Helping Kids Deal With Bullies (for Parents). Retrieved from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/bullies.html
What Parents Should Know About Bullying. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pacer.org/bullying/resources/parents/helping-your-child.asp[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]