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How can a Child Deal with Bullying?

Garry Crystal
Garry Crystal

Bullying is a sad fact of life for a large number of people. Commonly associated with playground children, bullying can lead to problems in later life. If a child is a victim of continual bullying, he or she may have problems with confidence and self-esteem in adulthood.

Bullying at school can take many forms. It can be physical or verbal abuse, and the emotional and physical affects can be damaging. A child does not usually have the mental capacity to understand why bullying happens. The victim of a bully will usually come to the conclusion that he or she has done something wrong and is to blame.

It may be best to simply walk away from a bully.
It may be best to simply walk away from a bully.

No child should ever be subjected to bullying, and at the first sign of bullying, it is important that the victim talks to someone about it. The schoolyard code, of course, frowns upon telling or squealing on bullies – but that is exactly what the bully is banking on.

Bullies usually pick on weaker children or children who are perceived as being different from others. Parents or teachers have the responsibility to look after the children in their care. They should be able to pick up on the signs that their children are unhappy at school. A bullied child may feign illness, for example, which can lead to the child truanting from school.

Physical bullying is a common problem at schools.
Physical bullying is a common problem at schools.

Children should be encouraged to talk to their parents or teachers if something is wrong. The child's worries should be taken seriously. If a teacher has been informed about bullying and the situation has not changed, then further steps should be taken.

Many schools now have anti-bullying policies, and teachers and head teachers take all instances of bullying very seriously. Make sure children realize that it is not bad to tell on a bully. It is likely that the bully is picking on more than one child, and telling a teacher will benefit everyone involved.

Children who are victims of cyber bullying should report the incidents.
Children who are victims of cyber bullying should report the incidents.

The first step a child targeted by a bully can take is to ignore the bullying. If the verbal abuse has no effect, the bully will soon become fed up. If bullying takes the form of physical violence, then there may be no resort but to tell a teacher or parent.

Parents or teachers should reassure children that it is not their fault if they are being bullied. The bully is to blame, and the child should be made aware of this. If a parent notices that a child is unhappy at school, then bullying may be the cause. However, keep in mind that children are not the only bullies. There have been many reports of teachers using intimidation with children, and this should also not be tolerated.

Discussion Comments

anon251229

We all know that bullying is a huge problem now in our society. That is why parents must take bullying seriously, listen carefully and calmly to your child's situation. Promote positive values through your words and actions. Encourage your child to treat others as she would want to be treated and help her learn to empathize with others.

GrumpyGuppy

@wesley91: Thanks for that tip. I totally agree with you.

We need to try to teach our children assertiveness. I have taught my son to face the bully by using a strong voice and standing tall.

It has been noted by child psychologists that a child should use “I want” when communicating with a bully. An example is “I want you to leave me alone right now!” It is also said that ignoring the bully is the best route to go. The person doing the bullying is looking for attention. If they don’t get it, they have no reason to continue bullying.

wesley91

When you think that your child is being bullied, you must act immediately. Bullying is now a huge issue and must be dealt with accordingly. First, you need to listen to your child’s version of what happened without interrupting them. You need to get the who, what, where, when, why, and how of the situation.

Have all of your information gathered and written down when you approach your child’s school principal. Many times, children do not even want their parents to go to the school because they think they will get teased even more. However, the safety of your child should come first.

anon49552

how can this be? the last sentence i mean.

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    • It may be best to simply walk away from a bully.
      By: auremar
      It may be best to simply walk away from a bully.
    • Physical bullying is a common problem at schools.
      By: AlexandreNunes
      Physical bullying is a common problem at schools.
    • Children who are victims of cyber bullying should report the incidents.
      By: creative soul
      Children who are victims of cyber bullying should report the incidents.
    • Children should be encouraged to talk to their parents or teachers if something is wrong.
      By: stefanolunardi
      Children should be encouraged to talk to their parents or teachers if something is wrong.
    • Most parents will need to deal with the issue of bullying.
      By: alexsokolov
      Most parents will need to deal with the issue of bullying.
    • Some people may not report bullying for fear of the situation escalating.
      By: Monkey Business
      Some people may not report bullying for fear of the situation escalating.