Join the movement and STOP Bullying
Bullying or cyberbullying is when one child picks on another child repeatedly. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or social. It can happen at school, on the playground, on the school bus, in the neighborhood, over the Internet, or through mobile devices like cell phones.
Bullying is NOT OK!
When Your Child Is Bullied – SPEAK UP. SPEAK OUT.
- Alert school officials to the problems and work with them on solutions.
- Teach your child to be comfortable with when and how to ask a trusted adult for help. Ask them to identify who they can ask for help.
- Recognize the serious nature of bullying and acknowledge your child’s feelings about being bullied.
- Help your child learn how to respond by teaching your child how to:
- Look the bully in the eye.
- Stand tall and stay calm in a difficult situation.
- Walk away.
- Teach your child how to say in a firm voice:
- “I don’t like what you are doing.”
- “Please do NOT talk to me like that.”
- Encourage your child to make friends with other children.
- Support outside activities that interest your child.
- Make sure an adult who knows about the bullying can watch out for your child’s safety and well-being when you cannot be there.
- Monitor your child’s social media or texting interactions so you can identify problems before they get out of hand.
When Your Child Is the Bully
Parents may not realize and think that their very own love bug is the one that is causing harm to others. It is important to recognize their child’s behavior, listen to others and not turn a blind-eye to the situation as you will fall victim of a bystander.
- Be sure your child knows that bullying is NOT OK.
- Set firm and consistent limits on your child’s aggressive behavior.
- Help your child learn empathy for other children by asking them to consider how the other child feels about the way your child treated them. Ask your child how they would feel if someone bullied them.
- Be a positive role mode. Show children they can get what they want without teasing, threatening or hurting someone.
- Use effective, non-physical discipline, such as loss of privileges.
- Focus on praising your child when they behave in positive ways such as helping or being kind to other children as opposed to bullying them.
- Develop practical solutions with the school principal, teachers, school social workers or psychologists, and parents of the children your child has bullied.
When Your Child Is a Bystander
- Encourage your child to tell a trusted adult about the bullying. Encourage your child to join with others in telling bullies to stop.
- Help your child support other children who may be bullied. Encourage your child to include these children in activities.