How to Help Your Child Cope With a School Bully

A school bully can be very cruel and insensitive. I had a bully when I was a child in school and it affected my whole life. It can greatly challenge your self-esteem and self-confidence. Here are some things you can do to help your child.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. When a child is being bullied, their self-esteem and dignity is automatically challenged. Use every opportunity to praise your child, even for the simplest thing. Only YOU know your child...find something about them to praise or brag about everyday.
2. Offer your support and talk with them openly about it. While it may be tempting to encourage your child to fight back, always resist this temptation. Fighting back may only make the situation worse. It could result into violence and more trouble, and someone could end up getting injured. It's best to tell your child to just walk away. Instruct them to not let the bully know they are angry, scared, or upset. This can be a challenge, I know. Tell your child to be as brave as possible and try to ignore the bully.
3. Consult a guidance counselor about the situation. This can help both you (as a parent) and your child.
4. Try to encourage your child to make more friends and join in on various youth programs, such as sports or a club. Encourage them to get together with friends that help build their confidence.
5. Some states have bullying laws and policies. If the situation doesn't get resolved or gets worse, it would be a good idea to check out the laws in your community. If your child's safety is at risk, contacting legal authorities may be necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Never tell your child to fight back when being bullied. It could back-fire and get someone injured.