Many kids dread going back to school not only because of the homework, tests, and added responsibilities, but because it’s just the start of a long year dealing with the school bully, who is determined to make their life hell.
We’ve all heard stories of defenseless kids getting mercilessly picked on and sometimes even physically abused by a school bully in every grade- even kindergarten- which is why it’s equally as important for parents to prepare kids for the bullies just as you’d prepare them for their first test.
Rather than letting a bully ruin your child’s learning experience, take a look at the 5 things you need to do before and after a bully starts causing problems for your child:
5. Have The Talk: Before the school year starts, or before your child becomes the target of a ruthless bully, remind your children that school will be a great place where they will make lifelong friendships, but at the same time, not everyone they meet will choose to see how amazing they are. Helping them understand what a bully is and why they act the way they do will help them stay calm should they be confronted for the first time.
4. Stay Calm: Every parent rightfully gets furious the minute they hear that their child is getting tormented and abused by another classmate, but showing those emotions around your child will do nothing, but possibly make them fearful of telling you the truth. Let your kids come to you, and always be the shoulder they can cry on and the person who will always listen. Then, after fully listening to their side of the story, you can best make a decision on what to do to help.
3. Make A Plan: Part of what makes bullies so scary is not knowing what to do to handle them. Come up with a plan with your child for a variety of situations so that they know exactly what to do when something happens. Never tell them to fight back. Instead, encourage your child to walk away, act unimpressed, get help from a teacher or adult, stay with friends when possible, or use the ‘fogging’ technique where kids agree with what the bully says in an offhand way without letting it bring your child down or retaliating against the bully.
2. Report The Bully: If bullying starts becoming a problem for your child, or you think your child is at risk for being physically harmed, report it to the school immediately. If possible, try to get some documentation of your report for your own record – like a signed paper with the teacher’s signature, date, and what you are reporting- so you know exactly what the school has been made aware of if you feel they are not doing their part to protect your child.
1. Reach Out: If the bully is persistently intimidating your child, try reaching out to the bully’s parents, however, the key is to reach out in a cooperative manner, never approach them in a confrontational way, never accuse their child of being a ruthless bully, and be clear that you would like to resolve this together. Not all parents will be receptive of this approach, but you’ll be more successful if you try calling or emailing and explain that your child had come home upset every day this week because the kids aren’t getting along very well. Then ask if they have any suggestions on how to help them get along or at the very least be civil.
How else would you help a child deal with a bully? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and please SHARE this with parents on Facebook.
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5 Foolproof Ways To Help Kids Beat The Bully is an article from: LifeDaily