This is a special blog series on bullying. In our next blog post, we will talk about how to overcome being bullied.
It can hard to know what to do when you learn that your child is being bullied. As a parent, it’s easy to feel frustrated and powerless; it’s even easier to get mad, overreact, or give your child the wrong advice on how to handle a bully.
Here is a list to help you get through a bully situation:
- Learn the signs. Your child might not want to tell you that they are being bullied, so it’s important to know the warning signs. The Bully Project is a great resource. The website points out that you’ll notice a change in behavior, but you might also notice any of the following: frequent loss of personal belongings, complaints of headaches or stomach aches so that they won’t have to go to school, avoiding recess or school related activities, and getting to school very early or late.
- Ask for details. When you know that your child is having issues with another student, let them know that you are there for them and you are sorry that it is happening to them. The most important thing you can do is be there for your child. Remain calm, and ask questions until you feel like you have a good understanding of the situation.Focus on making sure that your child feels taken care of and supported. Praise them for the courage it took to talk about bullying with you. Let them know that you are going to talk with their teacher and principal in order to make sure that the bullying stops.
- Contact the school. Empowering parents suggests you call your child’s teacher and set up an appointment as soon as you can. If the bullying is physical, don’t wait to bring it up at the meeting—tell them about the incident while on the phone. Remain calm, and present what you know. Ask how they plan on handling it. It’s also a good idea to let the principal know what is happening and that you expect help on this matter.
- Teach your child. Here are some helpful tips from Kid’s Health on how to help them improve the situation: avoid the bully; use the buddy system; don’t show your anger; find an adult; act brave and walk away; ignore the bully.
Remember, keep your cool around your child no matter how mad the situation makes you. It’s a difficult position for your child to be in, which can be hard on a parent—no one wants their child to suffer. Talk to other parents and research bullying so that you have a good idea about what steps you should take for your child.
If you’d like to set up a time to meet up with Reka, you can contact her by phone at 402-881-8125, by email at reka@omaha-counseling.com, or via Twitter or Facebook.
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photo credit: First Lady O’Malley Address Armistead Gardens Students on Bullying via photopin (license)
