It seems like every day there is a story in the news about bullying with horrific consequences, including several recent suicides of students who had been the victims of bullying. Every day, it is estimated that more than 160,000 students skip school because they fear being bullied. Whether you’re a teacher, a parent, or a concerned community member, you may be asking yourself what you can do to stop this problem.

The effects of taunting and bullying can last a lifetime – and are the top reason for suicide among teenagers. For bullied victims, the school becomes a frightening and intimidating place, not a safe haven in which to learn and grow. Bullying should not be seen as “normal,” though it has plagued children for generations. Do not write off bullying with a “kids will be kids” mantra. Though an easy cop out, it is your responsibility – as a parent, a teacher, or someone who comes into contact with children – to stop the cycle.

Schools can’t do it alone – and neither can parents. Both must work together to prevent bullying. This requires effective collaboration among everyone in the community. Make sure that all students know where to get help with bullying and any other issues that may be impeding their success in school. Encourage your local school to offer training to parents, teachers, and security guards on what to do about bullying and other violence that could be happening on the campus. Conduct an anonymous survey to find out the extent of bullying in your community – you might be surprised by the results. Adopt and enforce an anti-bullying policy and increase adult supervision, especially in hallways, playgrounds, and other areas that usually fall outside teachers’ control.

The problems might occur in the hallways, in the classroom, on the bus – or even online. Bullying is no longer restricted to fights on the playground. In fact, bullying does not have to be physical at all. With online or “cyberbullying” an increasing problem in kids and teens, parents have more reason than ever to monitor their child’s online presence.

Talk to your child frequently. With the lines of communication open, they are more likely to let you know if someone is picking on them. Often, however, students are reluctant to tell an adult about bullying, believing the problem to be their own fault. How, then, can such problems be detected? If the physical bullying is not seen, other signs can include growing isolation, dropping grades, and lowering self esteem. If you learn that your child is being bullied, work with school administrators to find a solution to avoid life-long negative effects stemming from bullying.

If it’s your own child being bullied, what can you do to stop the harassment? Besides discussing the matter with your child’s teacher and school administrators, consider volunteering your time in the lunch room and on the playground to monitor the students – your child’s school may simply lack the resources to have adequate supervision for these areas of the school. Enroll your child in self defense classes and other activities to boost their self esteem, and consider giving them a child-friendly personal alarm if you are concerned about the possibility of physical violence and want to give your child a way to alert nearby adults to the problem.

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Category: Parenting
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