How to Stop Bullying at Home
Bullying has become a serious problem in the U.S., especially for high school students. Bullying can cause lasting psychological and emotional injury. Bullying takes many forms but includes verbal abuse such as name calling or spreading malicious gossip and rumors, physical abuse such as hitting and pushing, and cyber bullying via email and internet social networks. Bullying can be stopped at home if a parent receives a report from school that their child may be bullying others.
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Instructions
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Talk openly with your child if you receive a report that he has been bullying another child. Explain to your child that he has been accused of bullying. Ask him to explain what happened from his perspective.
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Explain to your child that bullying is not acceptable. Describe how the victims of bullying are harmed by the conduct. Let your child know that she is also harmed when she bullies another child by gaining a reputation as a bully.
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Set clear rules for your child to follow when interacting with others. Tell your child that you will not tolerate bullying behavior. Decide together what an appropriate consequence for breaking the "no bullying" rules should be.
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Praise your child for her positive attributes. Let her know that she is talented and intelligent. Be firm and tell her that you expect her to treat others with respect.
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Try to spend more time with your child before and after school. Get involved in extracurricular activities and clubs. Monitor your child's internet activity and limit his access to cell phones for texting.
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Monitor your child's activities with his friends. Limit contact with those friends that have bullied others. Encourage your child to make new friends by becoming involved in community activities or volunteering her time in community service.
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Stay in close contact with teachers, principals and school counselors. Ask teachers and counselors to help you develop a strategy to prevent bullying in your child's school. Request that your child's teachers keep you informed about your child's conduct at school.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep communication open between you and your child.
Praise your child when she performs well in school and encourage her when she has difficulty.
Seek professional psychological counseling if your child becomes violent, hits others or threatens another person.
Do not display "bully-like" behavior when disciplining your child. Do not threaten or strike your child. Use a calm, but firm, tone of voice.
References
Resources
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