How to Help Your Child Deal With Bullies
A friend recently sent me a short article on bullying. I don’t know about you, but there were several bullies in my school when I was growing up. We all knew who they were, and we knew what would happen if we didn’t do what they wanted — give them our lunch money, let them “borrow” our favorite lipstick, carry their books to the bus.
More than 25% of children say they are bullied at school! Nearly one-quarter of public schools report that bullying is a daily or weekly problem.
Your child might be a victim of bullying if:
- She is afraid to go to school or do organized activities with classmates
- She has unexplainable cuts or bruises
- Her clothes, books or other belongings are damaged or missing
- She often cries or seems sad
It’s often hard for children who are being bullied to talk to a parent or other adult, but it is very important for them to tell. Create an atmosphere of trust with your child so you can help her. If you think your child is being bullied, you can help:
- Ask your child to tell you about the bully. Listen carefully. Let her know it’s not her fault.
- Teach ways to deal with bullies. Teach her to walk away or find an adult. She should not react to the bully. Hitting back won’t end the problem and may get her in trouble (even if she didn’t start it).
- Encourage her to make friends at school.
- Talk with the teacher or principal if the bullying doesn’t stop. They have a responsibility to stop bullying. Find out if the school has a program to prevent bullying. If not, suggest they take immediate steps to develop one.
Yesterday, I posted a blog about bullying that features a bullying prevention program being used in Frederick County, Maryland.
If your child is being bullied at school and you need more information about her rights and the responsibility of the school, I will be glad to provide you with information that is helpful to you. You can contact me at Sandra@RohrstaffLaw.com, give me a call at 703-260-6070 or you can contact me through our website, www.RohrstaffLaw.com.
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