How to Help Your Child Handle Bullies

Signs that your child is being bullied include avoiding situations such as going to school or riding the bus, according to Kids Health. Sleep issues and out of the ordinary moodiness are additional indicators that your child may be getting picked on. Once you determine this is the case, help him develop coping skills to deal with this and future bullies.

Instructions

    • 1

      Praise him for seeking help. Let him know that many people deal with bullies at some point in life and that he is not alone. Make sure he understands that he did not cause this -- the bully has the issues.

    • 2

      Share avoidance ideas. Discuss how he can reduce his contact with the bully. For example, if the bully always hangs out at one end of the hallway, use another route to get to class.

    • 3

      Teach him the buddy system. Encourage him to always seek out someone to walk, eat lunch and ride home on the bus with. There is safety in numbers. Help him make a list of friends at school he can hang out with. This lets him focus on other children, and the fact that he has friends and shows him that the bully or bullies are a tiny fraction of the population.

    • 4

      Practice the walk-away technique. Bullies thrive on intimidation. Teach your child to not respond, walk away and act like the bully bores him.

    • 5

      Encourage him to report it. Bullying can escalate, according to Healthy Kids. Reporting each and every bully attempt brings attention to the problem. Initially, the bully may step up his antics, but if your child tells a teacher, principal, or you every single time, the bully will eventually figure out it is not worth the constant trouble he finds himself in when he bullies your child.

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