If the bullying continues or worsens, don’t hesitate to get involved. Walk to school or to the bus stop with young children. Doing this with older children may make the taunts become worse. Talk to the child’s teacher, principal and school counselor. If these methods don’t bring results, meet with the bully’s parents, along with your child’s teacher and the principal, at the school in order to have proper mediation. If, at this point, the bullying incidents continue, contact the local police department. Be sure to document all incidents of bullying. Include the date, time, place and particulars of the incident.
Is Your Child the Bully?
Is your child the bully? If so, you may be shocked and disappointed. Remain calm and don’t overreact. Don not be on the defensive. This will only worsen the situation. Tell your child how disappointed you are. This may have a great impact than if you become angry.
Bullying often occurs when a child is unhappy or insecure. Talk to your child and try to find out why they are experiencing these feelings. Ask your child the following questions if he is bullying his peers:
Can you tell me how you feel about what’s happening at home and at school?
How do you feel about yourself as a person?
Do you treat your peers well?
Do you get along with your peers most of the time?
Who are your friends?
Is someone bullying you in some way?
Why are you bullying your peers?
What can we do together to help you stop bullying others?
Make an appointment with your child’s school counselor or principal to find out why they think your child has resorted to bullying. If you don’t get the answers you are looking for, ask your family physician to refer your child to psychologist who specialized in aggressive childhood behavior.
If you suspect your child of being a bully, seek professional help. Bullying is a type of violence and aggression that will worsen as the child ages. This can lead to more serious antisocial, aggressive and violent behavior. Statistics state that one in four school bullies have a criminal record that haunts them throughout their lives. Teen bullies lose friends and are rejected by their peers, which causes the bully’s behavior to worsen. Bullies also tend to fail in adult relationships, both intimate and platonic.