How to Help Children Feel Secure With Peers After Being Bullied

It isn't easy for any child to feel secure after being bullied. Sometimes, if children don't stand up for themselves, they'll end up becoming the target of the same bullies who bullied them last. Children need to decide what their best interests are, so that they can better defend themselves against bullies. In order to feel safe around a bully, children need to know how to handle situations in which they are being bullied. By discovering that there are alternative ways to handle bullies other than giving them what they want, children will feel more secure.

Instructions

How to Help Children Feel Secure With Peers After Being Bullied

1. Teach your child how to say "no" when he is being bullied into doing something that he doesn't necessarily want to do. By learning how to say "no" clearly, while also in a firm manner, your child will learn how to be assertive. Teach him how to ask politely for things that he wants, so he doesn't become a bully himself. If your child learns how to balance what he wants with the desires of other children, he'll be able to better handle bully situations.

2. Teach your child what it means to be strong, mean or submissive. If your child understands the difference between each option, she'll be able to better decide how to react when she's faced with a bully, and she'll also get a better sense of why the bully is resorting to bullying. To be strong, your child stands up for what she believes in, but also is respectful when defending herself. To be mean, your child uses threats or force to get his way. To be submissive, your child does whatever the other person wants her to even though it might not be what she wants to do. Understanding the ways in which your child can react to a certain situation will help your child plan what she will do ahead of time.

3. Teach your child how to be kind. Not only will kindness help your child to create friendships, but it may also prevent bullies from wanting to take advantage of your child. Your child will feel safer if he knows that there will always be a friend at his side to look out for him.

4. Let your child know that she can always come to you or a teacher if she is ever bullied again. Sometimes the support of those who care about her will help ease your child's stress after being bullied. Speaking to someone about the situation will help your child not to feel alone during difficult times.

5. Teach your child when to walk away from a bully situation. Sometimes it's best to just leave the area or room when a bully is nearby. Being as far away from the bully as possible will help your child feel safe also.

6. Make sure the school that your child is attending is doing something about the bully situation. In order for your child to feel safe, he needs to know that the bully most likely won't try to bully him again. So, making sure that the bully receives proper discipline is a must. If worst comes to worst, you might have to put your child into another school.

Tips & Warnings

• If you contact the bully's parents, his behavior may become worse, so take caution.

References

• Kaboose.com: How To Stop Bullying Now