As much as we hate to admit it, we know our kids get bullied while at school or on social media. With school gun violence in our news often, we can feel overwhelmed. The reality is we can teach our kids how to counteract any bullying they experience. The problem is, we don’t talk about how to prepare our kids for possible bullying. I have had experience with my children experiencing bullying at school. I have some tips for you to get those conversations going.
Talk About The Signs Of Bullying
Bullying can encompass so many different scenarios. Extorting lunch money is one of the most popular ones. Many schools have implemented online accounts to handle lunch money. If your child’s school doesn’t have that luxury you will want to talk about that form of bullying and what they can do. Most other forms of bullying are through making violent threats or spreading rumors. Teasing someone often to make the victim feel “lesser”, is also common.
Let Them Know They Are Not At Fault
One of the hardest parts about bullying is when the victim feels like it’s their fault. This is a natural reaction. Bullying is about a power play and control. It can be gratification but that is a rare occurrence. Children are still learning about how they fit in the world and compassion isn’t always taught to a child. Being able to comprehend how our actions might affect another comes with development. Children are not at the level of an adult, be patient. If you confront your child, or if they come to you, about bullying, the most important thing to do is to listen. Reinforce as much as possible that they are not at fault and there is something not okay about the other child.
Let Them Know What They Can Do
One of the best things you can do is empower your children with tasks they can do to combat bullying. If your child is being bullied on the internet, you must teach them to stop engagement. You need them to not erase the offensive posts or messages they are receiving. They must understand that you have to see it and save it. It comes in very handy when you start dealing with the police. Teach your child simple statements that they can say to someone who is teasing them. It is important that they learn to not engage with vicious words. They should also know who they can talk to besides telling you what is happening.
Let Them Know You Have Their Back
One of the most important things is the child needs to feel supported. They need to know you are going to do everything you can to protect them. This means you sit with them and keep a journal of the incidents. This means that you talk with the school and police, if necessary, to ensure that the issue resolved. Good communication with your child will help.
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