Helping Kids Deal with Bullying

Helping Kids Deal with Bullying

Helping a child deal with bullying starts with preventative measures. The first way to assist the kid in coming up with bullies is to teach them a set of responses, which they can use in case someone is picking on them. This may serve as an effective solution to de-escalate bullying. If the child already knows how to respond to a bully in the most simple yet direct way, they are far less likely to find themselves caught off guard in a critical situation. The second way to help the child is to empower them to be an “upstander” instead of a passive bystander when someone is being bullied. On the one hand, the kid engages in positive action and speaks up, which benefits those around them. On the other hand, the child now understands that they are not powerless and, in fact, can make bullies face repercussions, which makes them feel more secure and safe. The third way is to contact the bully’s parents. This is not the first thing a parent should do, yet it might be appropriate in cases of persistent bullying, violence, or intimidation. The next strategy is to partner with the school and cooperate with the staff on implementing bullying prevention programs. Finally, the last way to help the child deal with bullies is to teach them some coping skills such as communicating with parents, expressing their feelings, and so on.