How to Deal With Bullying Children
Almost all children have to endure teasing from friends and strangers. Children who look different, are from a different ethnic group, or who have an illness or disability may be especially sensitive and especially targeted for teasing.For some children, teasing by others is temporary, and they are able to handle it with little difficulty. For other children, though, teasing is more frequent or more hurtful and comes under the category of bullying. It is important to take bullying seriously, especially if your children are teenagers or preteens. All parents should know how to deal with bullying children.
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Instructions
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Teach appropriate responses. Parents can teach their children to ignore teasing by turning and walking away without saying a word, or to develop a quick response.
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Practice. Parents can try role-playing the situation. As a result of practice, the teasing actually will become less upsetting.
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Provide lots of encouragement.
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If an adult is involved at a supervised setting, discuss it. Ask to meet with parents, coaches and guidance counselors who may observe the bullying firsthand.
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Tips & Warnings
If you do meet with parents of bullies, they are likely to be defensive. Instead of accusing them of having a bullying child, tell them you are aware of bullying in the neighborhood or school and work with them for solutions.
Parents should recognize hidden signs of bullying: trouble sleeping, or wanting to stay home excessively.
If your child is a preteen or teenager and is being seriously tormented, do not ignore the problem and hope it will go away. Sometimes a change of school or neighborhood is worth the trouble to get your child out of the situation. Often, children singled out by bullies will continue to be the object of serious, very mean bullying for years.
