Definition: Bullying is any act of physical contact, word, or subtle action in which someone intentionally and repeatedly causes another person injury, discomfort or humiliation.

Types of Bullying: There are four types of bullying parents need to know about:

• Physical Bullying
• Social Bullying
• Verbal Bullying
• Cyber Bullying

How to know if your kid is being subjected to bullying?

• Physical symptoms (bruises, scratches, other injuries...)
• Emotional changes
• Changes in behavior
• Decline of self-esteem (less sociable, less talkative, less interested in habits...)
• Academic decline
• Changes in sleeping and eating habits
• Behavioral changes at home
• Social isolation

Parents need to be there for their kids to help them overcome bullying by:

• Listening carefully to what they tell you about the bullying and creating a supportive and safe space for them. This space is for them to let emotions out and for you to hold it (contain it).
• Educating your child about bullying.
• Encouraging open conversation
• Boost self-confidence by:

1.         Promoting independence

2.         Providing constructive feedback

3.         Setting realistic goals

4.         Encouraging positivity

5.         Offering unconditional love and support

• Teaching problem-solving skills
• Setting boundaries and teaching them how to set theirs.
• Building a support network for the child to regain the sensation of safety.
• Seeking professional help if needed
• Working on group activities outside the kid’s comfort zone. It’s important to be gentle and containing in this step to help your child feel more confident, safe, and less scared or nervous to get out of their comfort zone and try something new.

How can we teach our children to set boundaries for bullies?

• Identify acceptable and unacceptable behaviors
• Go over some simple phrases that they can use when they want to set boundaries, such as: “Please No”, “I don’t like that”, “It’s my turn now”, etc.
• Make a list of Get-A-Grown-Up scenarios, such as:

1. Unwanted physical contact (hitting, pushing, playing rough);
2. A child who won’t take no for an answer
3. A friend wanting to do something they’re not comfortable with or feel unsafe doing, such as: climbing a dangerous fence, doing challenges, lying about a situation, etc.

• Model Behavior
• Role play (where the kids act as their bullies and try to reverse roles)
• Practice self-confidence
• Emphasize safety
• Provide emotional support
• Seek professional help if needed

How can we teach our children how to behave when witnessing an act of bullying?

1. Teach them about bullying and the importance and ways of reporting. Make sure you give them a clear reporting route about who they can report to in their school, at home, and any place they’re frequently at.
2. Explain about bullying using concrete examples that can help them recognize the different types of bullying.
3. Teach them the basic rules to react to bullying:

• Avoid joining in or laughing
• Walk away and report the bully.
• Tell the bully to stop if walking away didn’t help and request other bystanders to stand up too
• Get an adult
• Support the bullied.

What to do when your child is the bully?

1. Listen to them with patience allowing them to express their point of view.
2. Let them know that this type of behavior is unacceptable and that you taking the bullying behavior very seriously. It’s important to use appropriate wording that tackles specific unwanted behavior and not criticize the child as a whole.
3. Explain how these actions them and others. Consequences to their actions can be imposed (e.g. apologizing to the child they bullied}.
4. Coordinate with the school to work out a solution together
5. Spend more time with them, it will help you build a closer relationship and will allow you to notice unwanted behavior.
6. Teach them respect and inclusivity.
7. Help them find better ways to express their anger or frustration.
8. Practice self-confidence.
9. Seek professional help if needed.