 other child alone is not being bullied. It will in turn make the school a more pleasant environment.
Rinaldo writes, “Experts say that bullying is much less common in schools where kids take the time to make friends with students outside their regular social group” (Rinaldo, 2005). There are also groups like Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) that serve has mediators and helpers when bullying arises. It is natural to assume that where there is bullying, there is violence, and the members of SAVE are aware of this fact. SAVE attempt to take a group of individuals – who are often powerless against the pains of bullying – and turn them into a cohesive group (Rinaldo, 2005).
So, how do we prevent bullying? It is in the hands of the kids and the teachers. The teachers need to listen and watch. They have to pick up on the clues that a child is being bullied. As for students, to embrace the victim is to tell the bully that what they are doing is unacceptable. The bully will stop if the bully knows that they are not getting the kind of attention they sought through bullying. It is a group effort, and an effort that is worth it. If Your Child Is Being Bullied First, listen to your child. Just talking about the problem and knowing that you care can be helpful and comforting.
Make sure that your child knows that you do not blame or feel disappointed in him or her. Ask your child what he or she thinks should be done. What has your child tried? What worked and what didn’t? Encourage your child not to retaliate against the bully or to let the bully see how much he or she has upset your child. Getting a response just reinforces the bullying behavior. Tell your child that if at all possible, he or she should stay calm and respond evenly or firmly (e. g. , “I don’t like your teasing and I want you to stop right now” or “Stop doing that now.
If you keep on, I’m going to report you to the principal. “). Some children find it works to just say nothing and walk away. At other times, it can be more effective to make a joke, laugh at oneself, or to use humor to defuse the situation. Brainstorm with your child to develop some effective responses. Then role-play different approaches and responses with your child so that he or she will be prepared the next time. Encourage your child to go immediately to a teacher, principal, or other nearby adult if he or she feels seriously threatened.
You may also want to help your child to develop strategies to avoid situations where bullying can happen and to avoid being alone with bullies. If bullying occurs on the way to or from school, your child may want to take a different route, leave at a different time, or find others to walk to and from school with. If bullying occurs at school, your child may want to avoid areas that are isolated or unsupervised by adults, and stick with friends as much as possible. Encourage your child to form strong friendships.
A child or teen who has loyal friends is less likely to be singled out by a bully, and they can be valuable allies if your child is targeted. If your child lacks friends, help him or her to develop more friendships. Encourage your child to participate in positive social groups that meet his or her interests, such as after-school groups, church groups, extra-curricular activities, or teams. In addition to helping your child make friends, these activities can help to develop your child’s special skills and rebuild his or her self-confidence. In many cases, bullying won’t require your involvement.
If the bullying is persistent and is harming your child’s emotional health, you need to intervene by talking to your child’s teacher, school counselor, or principal about the problem in order to make sure your child is safe, that effective consequences are applied toward the bully, and that monitoring at school is adequate. Advocate for the involvement of the bully’s parents. Suggest that the school implement a comprehensive anti-bullying program. If Your Child Is Bullying Others If you learn that your child is bullying others, sit down and talk with your 