Dealing with Bullying
DEALING WITH BULLYING
By Anne Lawton | MA, LPC, REGISTERED PLAY THERAPIST
Q. I am worried that my son is being bullied at school. What should I do?
A. You are right for being worried about your son. Bullying has become a big problem for kids in today's world and the psychological impact is great. Kids who are bullied tend to have a lower self-esteem and are more likely to struggle with depression. There are, however, things parents can do to help children deal with bullies.
First, instruct them that they can tell you or any trusted adult whenever they are being bullied. Telling is not tattling. Then try the following:
(1) Talk with your child. Ask direct questions such as:
“Are there any kids at school who are picking on you or bullying you?”
“Are there any kids at school who tease you in a mean way?”
More subtle questions would be:
“Are there any kids at school who you don’t like? Why not?”
“Do they leave you out of things?”
Reassure your child you are there for him or her.
(2) Talk with the staff at your child’s school. Meet with your child’s teacher. He or she will probably be in the best position to understand the relationships between your child and other peers at school. Share your concerns and ask about how your child relates to other classmates. Allow the school to set up an appointment with the parents of the bully to curtail the bullying if needed. (See footnote 1)
You may want to suggest your child do the following when dealing with bullies:
Do not fight back.
Don’t try to bully those who bully you.
Try not to show anger or fear. Students who bully like to see that they can upset you.
Calmly tell the student to stop . . . or say nothing and then walk away. Use humor, if this is easy for you to do.
Try to avoid situations where bullying is likely to happen. You might want to: 1) Avoid areas of the school where there are not many students or teachers around. 2) Make sure you aren’t alone in the bathroom or locker room. 3) Sit near the front of the bus. 4) Don’t bring expensive things or a lot of money to school. 5) Sit with a group of friends at lunch. 6) Take a different route through the hallways or walk with friends or a teacher to your classes. (See footnote 2)
If none the above works, give us a call. We will be happy to help talk further with your child or you to help them deal with being bullied.
Sources:
1http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/HHS_PSA/pdfs/SBN_Tip_7.pdf
2http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/bullying/SBN_Tip_8.pdf
*This column is not intended to substitute for an actual session with a licensed counselor. This post is from our former "Ask Anne" blog series.