How to Talk to Your Child About Bullying

No one wants to think their child will fall victim to bullying — or worse, become a bully themselves. However, it’s a common problem that keeps growing with the amount of time children spend online. The best way to break the bullying cycle is to be involved in your child’s life. A confident, secure child is much less likely to allow themselves to be bullied or to bully others. Here’s how you can talk to your child about this difficult subject.

Educate Your Child

Inform your child about bullying and the steps they can take if they experience or witness it. A bully is someone with a perceived higher social status or position of power who intentionally causes harm to someone else repeatedly, typically a child in a marginalized group. Tell your child about in-person bullying and cyberbullying. Emphasize the fact that both cause harm and that, if something does happen to them online or offline, you’ll be there.

Communicate Openly

Talk to your children not just about bullying but about their experiences at school in general. Check in frequently about online and in-person interactions with others, positive and negative. If you’re afraid your child is being bullied or becoming a bully, talk about it. With open communication, your child will trust you if they find themselves in trouble.

Teach and Model Kindness

Teach your child to be respectful to everyone around them, even if they don’t like them. Encourage your child to stick up for themselves and anyone who is being bullied without creating further conflict. Show your child what it means to be kind and respectful by modeling this kind of behavior toward adults and children in your life. Keep this in mind with what you post online, as well. If they see you posting rude comments online, they will learn that it’s appropriate to do so themselves.

Help Build Confidence

Support your child in everything they do, especially if it’s something outside the norm. Encourage them to join groups that share their interests, like clubs at school or the local library. Making like minded friends is a great way for children to learn about themselves and feel like they’re part of a community. When you start to hear negative self talk from your child, reframe it into something positive. Confidence is key when it comes to handling bullies.

Be Supportive

If your child tells you they’re being bullied, believe them, and let them know it’s not their fault. Tell your child that things will get better, even if it doesn’t feel that way. Be proactive in telling their teacher if it happened at school or the other child’s caretaker if it happened outside of school. 

Children who become bullies also need support. If your child is bullying someone, and they have trouble talking to you, see if they can talk to a counselor or mental health professional. Take a look inward, making sure they’re not copying your bad behavior. Once you have talked to your child, offer nonviolent consequences, including limiting time spent online, apologizing to those they’ve wronged, and stopping the behavior.

At our Osceola private schools, we have a zero tolerance bullying policy. We teach our children to respect and love one another. Our schools instill leadership and compassion in our students through rigorous academics and a foundation of faith. We foster an atmosphere of care and an environment of high expectations and effective discipline. To learn more about what makes us different, contact us here.