Bullying is a serious problem in many schools, and the consequences of being bullied can be long-ranging emotional and physical issues that can impact academic performance and confidence; parents need to know how to help a kid deal with bullying. Learning how to deal with a bully is an important step in reducing problems with the school and with other students, and having parental support is vital to overcoming problems with bullies.
Dealing With Bullying – How to Recognize Signs of Bullying
Parents need to be able to recognize the signs of bullying in order to help their child overcome the problem and deal with it effectively. There are many signs of bullying that may not be noticeable unless a parent is paying attention. Slipping grades, low self-confidence and social isolation can all be related to problems with a bully.
Additionally, signs of physical violence such as torn clothing, damaged school items or injuries can also be related to bullying. If a child does not have an explanation for injuries or is reluctant to discuss what happened, he may be the victim of bullying.
School bullying can take many forms, from verbal teasing and abuse to physical violence and theft of personal property. Bullying is noticeably different from teasing, which is common among children, in that bullies choose a few specific targets for repeated harassment, and often pick kids who are unlikely to fight back or report the problem to a teacher or parent.
Bullying in Schools – How to Deal With Bullying
Contact a teacher as soon as signs of bullying are noticed. Teachers may be unaware of the problem, as most bullying occurs when students are unsupervised by teachers and other authority figures at school. Making a teacher aware of a problem can help her pay more attention to classroom behavior and end the issues.
If the problem persists, get in touch with school authorities such as a principle. Many schools have zero-tolerance policies for bullying, and students who are caught bullying can be suspended or expelled. Additionally, many states have anti-bullying laws that are designed to protect students.
In addition to working with the school to end a problem with a bully, children also need to be taught how to defend themselves against a student who is picking on them.
Cyber Bullying – Stop Internet Bullies
Much of today’s bullying is cyber bullying, in addition to face-to-face interactions with bullies at school. Cyber bullying is just as emotionally damaging as physical bullying, and the anonymity of the internet can make it difficult to track who the bullies are. Teach kids how to be safe when going online. Increasing privacy settings can help stop bullies from having access to a child.
Text messages can also be used for bullying. In some cases, changing a phone number can help end the problem. Blocking the bully’s number can also help put a stop to cyber bullying.
Bullying in Schools – How to Stop School Bullying
Children also need to learn how to defend themselves from bullies at school. For children who have been the victims of repeated bullying, this can be a challenge; learning to stand up to a bully is an important step in stopping the problem. There are a few things children can do to deal with bullying at school.
Kids should stay with friends as much as possible. Bullies have a tendency to target other children when they are most vulnerable; having a group of friends around can reduce the likelihood of being bullied. Children also need to verbally stand up to the bully without being aggressive or physically challenging; aggression can escalate a problem into a fight.
Kids also need to approach a teacher or authority figure and tell them that they are being bullied. Teachers are more likely to pay attention to a child who comes forward and says they are being bullied, because most schools have a strict bullying policy.
Remind kids not to encourage bullies if they notice it occurring; watching, laughing and egging bullies on can all increase the frequency and intensity of the bullying of other students. Instead, kids should report the behavior to a teacher; this can be uncomfortable for students who don’t want to feel like they’re trying to get another student in trouble. However, putting an end to bullying in schools is important and kids often depend on other students for help when they are being picked on.
Dealing with a bully can be a challenge for students and parents. Learning how to deal with a bully can help build students’ self-confidence and keep them safe in schools.
Bailey Shoemaker Richards - Bailey is a writer from Ohio. She is pursuing a creative writing degree at Ohio University, where she is currently a senior. Bailey ...
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