Talking about being bullied may be a difficult thing to do with your child.
Here are some suggestions:
- Talk to a schoolteacher or administrator about the situation. Remember that the school is responsible for providing your child with a safe learning environment.
- Ask your child what takes place in school, what happens when there is free time, how they are feeling. Talk with your child about different aspects of school and how they feel about it.
- Roleplay with your child and discuss ways they can respond to a bully. Some possibilities might include walking away, telling an adult, or asking for help from peers.
- Teach your child that telling on those who bully should not be considered tattling, and that everyone is a victim when the bully is allowed to treat others badly. Let your child know that by reporting bullying help will come and that support will come from you and from the school staff.
- Encourage your child to talk with friends about bullying. Bullies rarely target kids in groups, so maintaining a peer group that is unified may be helpful in avoiding being the target of bullying behavior.
- Ensure appropriate adult supervision. Be aware of your child’s involvement in activities inside and outside of school. Make certain that adequate adult supervision is present in every situation