| For many parents knowing that their child is being | | | | more random, non selective or anti social acts. Kids |
| bullied at school can be very distressing and disturbing. | | | | today can certainly be nasty, yet this doesn't always |
| Most parents knowing their child is being bullied will | | | | count as being bullied. |
| experience anger, confusion and even guilt. Bullying is | | | | 2. Deal with their feelings: Any child who is being bullied |
| an insidious behaviour the makes a child feel less | | | | will most likely feel scared, angry and emotionally sad. |
| secure and safe. It can have a great impact on their | | | | Boys tend to show more anger, while girls say they |
| learning, emotional well being, peer relations and sense | | | | feel sad. The degree of emotional intensity is a good |
| of self. | | | | indicator of their degree of bullying. You need to |
| Bullying today, takes on many forms and guises, | | | | recognise and validate their emotions by letting them |
| including physical and emotional abuse, intimidation, | | | | talk about how they are feeling and what they are |
| harassment and exclusion. Bullying has now also | | | | thinking about. |
| entered the cyber dimension, which has certainly | | | | 3. Get all the facts: Get a clear picture of what is |
| moved the normal bullying goalpost. In the past, children | | | | happening. Ask questions, to understand who is |
| were able to escape bullying when they were at | | | | involved, the frequency of the bullying, and what |
| home, this is now no longer the case. | | | | happens prior to them being bullied. This will help you |
| Girls bully just as much as boys, but while boys may | | | | determine what the next course of action will be. |
| use physical intimidation or even verbal abuse, girls are | | | | 4. Give your child some coping skills: Once you have a |
| more likely to use exclusion or verbal sarcasm. Bullying | | | | clear picture and understand the situation, you can |
| shouldn't be confused to normal childhood teasing, | | | | start by giving your child some workable advice, which |
| rejection or conflict. | | | | includes avoidance strategies, being more assertive |
| Bullying is about making someone feel a sense of | | | | and changing their body language to one that is more |
| powerless. It is selective, uninvited, repetitive oppression | | | | confident and self assured. |
| of one person by another or by a group.If you feel | | | | 5. Get the school involved: Bullying can be easily |
| your child is being bullied, you need to handle the | | | | defeated when both teachers and parents are |
| situation with great care as children often don't want | | | | involved. Approach your school through the right |
| their parents knowing that they are being bullied. Be on | | | | channels and make yourself familiar with the school's |
| the lookout for warning signs, such as personal items | | | | anti bullying procedures and programs. |
| being stolen, changes to their school routine and | | | | 6. Build your child's support network: Help your child |
| withdrawing from their usual activities. | | | | build a supportive network through their friends who |
| Here are 6 tips to help your child if they are being | | | | can assist your child through their bullying experience. |
| bullied: | | | | Look at getting your child involved in self defence |
| 1. Listen to your child: You first need to take them | | | | classes, so they are also better able to protect |
| seriously and don't dismiss their complaints. Use your | | | | themselves in the unlikelihood of being repeatedly |
| common sense to differentiate between bullying and | | | | attacked. |