How to Teach Children About Bullying
It's shocking for parents to realize that their child is being bullied. It's just as painful for them to find out that their child is a bully. Most bullying instances take place away from adults so it's hard, but important, to try to get clear facts. When other children see bullying, they seldom do anything about it because they are afraid or unsure of what steps to take. If more kids learn how to deal with these situations effectively, bullying will not be so prevalent.
Instructions
Your Child is Being Bullied
Ask your child to tell you exactly what happened in detail. Try to get additional information about the incident from a teacher or another parent. Don't speak badly about the bully, but reassure your child that there are things that can be done to prevent anymore bullying. Be certain your child feels supported and knows you are there to help. Teach your child how to be assertive and stand up for himself. Role-play different responses and reactions he can use with the bully. With enough practiced role-play, your child will feel confident of what to do the next time he is feeling threatened. Children learn by going through the motions and saying the actual words out loud. Talk about prevention techniques such as finding safety in a group or walking away. Your Child is a Bully
Get the facts from a teacher as well as the other parent if your child is blamed for a bullying incident. Listen objectively without getting defensive. Explain to your child that the bullying behavior is not acceptable. Ask your child about the feelings he was having prior to the bullying incident. If he can't remember, ask him to think about it the next time he is tempted. Be supportive and tell him you want to help him solve the problem. Give your child a safe haven or person to go to, if possible. There should be a teacher or counselor on campus he can talk to when he is feeling bad. Tell your child there will be consequences if he continues the behavior. Explain in detail what the consequences will be. Reward your child if he changes his behavior. Your Child Witnesses Bullying
Tell your child to speak up to the bully, if it's safe. Role-play what she might say, such as, "That's not nice so we're going to walk away now." Other children may then feel safe to do the same. Explain to your child that if she watches without taking action, that also hurts the victim. Display the behavior you want your child to use. If you witness someone being bullied, stick up for them. If you see a bullying incident on TV, have a discussion about what steps the people in the program could take. Help your child develop empathy by asking her how it would feel if she was the one being bullied. Tell her to put herself in the victim's role and imagine how it would feel if no one stuck up for her. Teach your child from an early age to accept and be friendly with all children, regardless of the way they look, their race, religion or their mental capabilities.
