How To Help A Child Overcome Bullying

Teach Your Child How To Respond

As you and your child work through the bullying problem together, it is crucial teach them how to respond to bullying. Never encourage your child to fight back physically, as they could get hurt or in serious trouble. Make sure they know which adults to reach out to if bullying occurs. Adults such as a teacher, principal, school counselor or bus driver can all help handle bullying situations. Encourage your child to implement the buddy system and surround themselves with friends. Teach your child to walk away from a bullying situation calmly, rather than letting the bully get a reaction out them. This tactic does not mean the bullying should be ignored, as all bullying should be reported and dealt with, but it does give a sense of power back to your child.

Contacting the appropriate authorities is often a key part of dealing with bullying. Read on to determine which route to take.

Contact The Right Authorities

If a crime has been committed or someone is in immediate danger due to bullying, contact the authorities or dial 911. When bullying occurs during school hours or on school property, promptly contact the right authorities, starting with your child’s teacher and principal. You can also contact the school counselor and district superintendent. If bullying occurs on the bus, also be sure to contact the district transportation officials and your child’s bus driver. Each state addresses bullying in its own laws and educational policies. You can contact your state’s Department of Education to find out more about anti-bullying laws in your state. If you feel your school is not handling bullying appropriately, the Department of Education in your state is another resource you can use.

Don't let bullying take your child down. Learn more about this on the next slide.