It can be upsetting when your child is being bullied, but it’s important to give them the tools to deal with it.
Here are 8 tips to help:
- If your child tells you they’re being bullied, thank them for talking to you. It takes a lot of courage to admit to being bullied but it’s the first step to sorting out the problem. It may be hard but try not to get upset. Stay calm and reassure your child that you’ll help sort things out.
- Don’t take over, ask your child what they want to do, talk about possibilities, and make sure they’re happy with what will happen next.
- If the bullying occurs at school, talk to your child’s teacher. They may be able to arrange for someone to keep an eye on your child at school and set up a system (with your child’s approval and support) to report any further bullying.
- Speak to your child about whether there’s a member of staff they can talk to or a place they can go if they are being bullied at school. Maybe they could join a club so they would be in a group at lunchtimes and therefore less vulnerable to bullying.
- Encourage your child not to react if they’re bullied, as this often fuels bullying behaviour. Tell them to remove themselves from the situation as quickly as possible and report any bullying to an adult.
- Monitor your child. Ask them how school has gone and check in regularly with a teacher to see how they are getting on during the day. If you don’t get a detailed response, ask questions. Stay positive and try not to let the situation get you down.
- Bullying can affect a child’s confidence and self-esteem. Focus on their strengths and do activities that they enjoy, and which help relieve stress.
- Keep a record of the bullying so you have evidence if you need to take the matter further. For more advice, visit antibullyingpro.com/support-centre.
Source: Vodafone DP
