How to Prevent Bullying - Tips for Parents and Teachers

Bullying is a serious problem nowadays, and it can be shocking and upsetting to find out that your child may have bullied someone at school.

3 min read

Bullying is a serious problem nowadays, and it can be shocking and upsetting to find out that your child may have bullied someone at school. It might be hard for you to process the news, but there are ways to deal with it right away to make sure it doesn’t repeat itself and your child’s success in school and ability to form friendships remains stay secure.

First things first, make sure your child knows what bullying is and why it’s wrong. Explain to him that it’s unacceptable to pick on kids who are different because of size, looks, race, religion, or gender. And remember that kids often repeat behavior that they see at home. So if your child’s older brother or sister is bullying him, make sure to deal with that.

Second, make sure your child understand that bullying is wrong and will not be tolerated. Try to understand the reasons behind his behavior. Often, it is just a way for your child to express his anger, frustration, or insecurity. Sometimes, it’s that your kid hasn’t learned cooperative ways to work out conflicts.

Teach your kids to treat others with respect and kindness. It sounds obvious, but it’s important. Teach your kids to feel empathy towards people who are different, be it because of race, appearance, special needs, economic status, religion, etc.

Try to be learn about your child’s social life. Is he being influences by friends? Is he feeling pressure to fit in? Talk to him about these things and try to address issues that may come up.

Be wary of how you talk to him. If you get too angry or emotional, your child might see that as an appropriate reaction to a problem and replicate your behavior. This does not mean that you can’t discipline your child, but make sure it takes the form of constructive criticism, as opposed to name-calling and accusations.

Get help. Talk to his teachers, to his counsellor and to his friends. They can help identify triggers and be able to talk to him when he loses control and starts bullying. It’s not an easy thing to go through, but if bullying goes uncontrolled, it will have a damaging effect on your child’s development.