Don’t Overreact or Take Over
It is natural to feel anxious and protective over your child, but overreacting or swooping in to fix things for them may actually make your child feel powerless. Instead, work with your child to come up with a plan together. This way, you will be helping them to develop skills and tools to help them cope with the situation in the future.
Create Strategies Together
Work together with your child to come up with strategies to handle the bullying. “Bullies are after a reaction. As hard as it is, simply ignoring the bully and walking away without showing fear or anger can be the most effective strategy when dealing with bullying,” suggests Debra Hankins, an educator at Lastminutewriting.com and Writinity.com.
You can also help your child to come up with some simple phrases or slogans, such as “Stop” or “I’ve had enough” that they can use to diffuse a situation and then walk away. Work together to find something which feels right for them. Remind them to avoid insulting or reacting to the bully as that will only cause the situation to escalate.
Another strategy is to use the buddy system. When your child is with another friend, they are less likely to find themselves isolated or targeted by bullies. You can also encourage your child to talk to an adult, such as a teacher or school guidance counselor when they are being bullied.
When To Take Further Action
If the situation continues to escalate and you need to take more official action, you should discuss it with your child and work with them so as not to make the situation worse. Listen to what your child says and thinks would be most helpful to them. Find out about the school’s anti-bullying policies and then contact the principal or year adviser. If the situation persists, consider contacting the authorities.
Bullying is never acceptable. By talking openly with your child and reassuring them that they are not alone, you can help them develop the skills and determination they need to confront and overcome it.
