7 ways for your child to deal with bullying

To prevent your children from being bullied, make sure they know what to do if they encounter a bully. In addition to building their self-esteem and improving their social skills, they also need practical tools on how to handle bullying situations. Here are seven ideas that every parent can tell their child. 

Not reacting when someone says or does something annoying is often the most effective response to bullying. Most abusers are looking for some reaction. They want the targeted child to get angry or cry. And if your child has an emotional response to bullying, that behavior can become repetitive and escalate. Conversely, if your child manages to remain with their head held high whenever someone engages in calling them names or bullying them in any other way, the bully will eventually back down when they realize that their attacks are not responded to. 

Again, bullies often don’t expect that someone will stand up to them. In fact, they often target children they believe they can bully. As a result, telling the bully to stop in a strong and confident voice can be very effective. If your child is convinced that behaving this way, will deter the bully from prevailing on them, then they are more likely to do it. 

Some children have a natural sense of humor and find it easy to use it against the bully. When children can do this, it demonstrates their confidence in themselves and their indifference in other people pointing out their imperfections. In fact, they often feel confident enough to laugh along with the bully. When your child reacts with laughter towards the bully, they neutralize any power the bully thought they had, and their attacks become ineffective. 

Sometimes all it takes to prevent bullying is for your child to avoid the places where it is most likely to happen. Typical bullying spots are areas such as the remote spots of the playground, empty hallways, bathrooms, lockers and the back of the bus. Make sure your child knows where these spots are, consciously avoids them, or is always with a friend when they can. Sometimes, the best way to prevent bullying is to avoid meeting the bully. 

Bullies usually seek out children who are lonely or socially isolated. Make sure your child knows that hanging out with friends is a great way to prevent bullying. If your child struggles with social skills or has few friends, take action and help them develop friendships. Having just one healthy friendship can be an effective weapon against bullying. 

Talk to your child about ways they can defend themselves against bullies, especially if bullying involves physical violence. For example, make sure your child knows how to find the “escape exit” and use it when the opportunity arises. Other options include making noise, attracting attention, and knowing how to prevent any kind of physical aggression. Your child does not need to “fight” the bully to defend themselves. They just need to know how to ‘’escape’’ to safety. 

Make sure your child knows that the best way to prevent bullying is to report it to you. Without adult intervention, bullying will often continue or escalate. Talk to your children about the reasons why victims may not tell others they’re being bullied, and make sure they know you understand their fear. Emphasize to them that although it takes a lot of strength and courage to tell someone about a bullying experience, it is the smartest way to deal with it. Also be careful not to engage in accusations or criticize your child for being bullied. Bullying is a choice made by the bully and is never the victim’s responsibility.