By Sharon Rose
Parents, teachers and other caring adults have a role to play in preventing bullying. If your child is being bullied at school, always contact the school and work with them to stop the bullying. Here are 5 tips to better understand how you can help your kids to understand bullying and how to protect themselves:
1.Talk about what bullying is and how to stand up to it safely. Give tips, like using humor and saying stop directly and confidently. Let them try it out with you by role playing. Tell kids bullying is unacceptable. Make sure kids know how to get help. Encourage them to speak to an adult they trust if they are being bullied or see others being bullied.
2. Keep the lines of communication open. Check in with kids often. Listen to them. Research shows that kids really do look to parents and caregivers for advice and help on tough decisions. Sometimes spending 15 minutes a day talking can reassure kids that they can talk to their parents if they have a problem. Know their friends, ask about school, and understand their concerns.
3. Encourage kids to do what they love. Special activities, interests, and hobbies can boost confidence, help kids make friends, and protect them from bullying behavior.
4. Parents should stay involved with their kid's school. Keep parent/teacher conferences. Volunteer in the classroom at party-time, field trips, etc.
5. Model how to treat others with kindness and respect. Your kid is a mini-me.
Copyright, How to Talk About Bullying with Your Child, Sharon Rose, Parents Want to Know 101, November 10, 2017. All rights reserve.