Involvement of Parents in Dealing with Bullying

Involvement of Parents in Dealing with Bullying

Parents just want to protect their children from farm, hence why they will get involved but sometimes this can make the situation worse. It can be distressing for parents to witness what there child is going through and how bullying can affect them, so it is natural that they want to stop it fro happening to help their child feel better. Parents need to approach the school with the children to get help and support then try and deal with it alone as this can lead to confrontation between families which will not help solve the situation. To help children and young people be supported through bullying they need firm, immediate action from someone not connected to either side. As parents to keep a diary, or if an older child then they could keep their own diary which will be an account of what has happened and any witnesses. It is important that when a parent comes into discuss their child being bullied, the teacher also speaks with the child to get their account of the story. They may then also need to interview or talk with any witness or bystanders who may have been mentioned or any other children that may know of what has happened they don’t need to be friends with either child, other staff may need to be questions to see if they have noticed anything for example in the playground. Obviously, they child that is being accused will also need to be spoken to.

Parents can become aggressive or abusive towards the school when their child is being bullied as they may feel nothing is being done when it is. If this happens it is important that the teachers discuss this with the head teacher or other senior management and get the to sit in on meetings with the parents. If this cannot be arranged get the parents to write their complaints down or see the head teacher directly. It is unacceptable for parents to be threatening in any way as this may lead to them being banned from the school premises or the police being informed of their threatening or abusive behaviour.

Taking Action Against Bullying

If a child comes to someone to report an incident or they suspect that a child is being bullied it is important to first have an open conversation with that individual. This is to try and understand what has happened, and how you can go forward to help them. Make sure that you speak to the child is private, and not in front of the rest of the class, try and encourage that child to do it with another adult in the room to ensure that the adult is protected and not alone in a room with a child. Find a quiet time of the day when it won’t be disturbed. Encourage them to share any details and the events of what has happened, you may need to record this so the account can be remembered. When talking to a child about bullying be patient, calm and understanding as it has probably taken that child a lot of courage to come forward. Do not make assumptions or interrupt the child, try not to put words into their mouth or try and guess what has happened. It is important to put your feelings aside and listen to what the child is saying. Reassure the child bullying is not their fault. Make sure that they are praised for being brave to confide, and assure them that now they have spoken about the bullying that they can get help and support and together it will be sorted. Give that child support and trust, but make sure that they are told that the information they are giving may need to be shared with the school but any action that will need to be taken will be discussed with them first. Explore the options of help and support together and come to an agreed course of action.

It is important to teach children how to cope with bullying, tell them that it is ok to report any problems to the school. Also teach a child how to be assertive to be able to stand up for them selves, as this can be an effective way to help them. Children who appear vulnerable will continue to be bullied, as bullies will test their potential targets to see how they respond.

When it is discovered that children are being bullied it can be frustrating and overwhelming so it is important to respond effectively to giver the child the support they need, and put any anger or assumptions to one side. Don’t act aggressively as this is not teaching the child anything, don’t go storming into the school or confront the child/parents as this will make the situation worse or upset the child. Don’t instruct a child to fight back as this will place the child in further danger. The school may then label them as being the problem as retaliation is not the answer. Never tell a child that they are lying, or dismiss them. Don’t tell them to ignore the bullies or dismiss the experience as just being a part of growing up as this is not going to stop the bullying. All it does is teach the child that bullying should be tolerated instead of being confronted, as the effects of bullying can