Did you know that 25 percent of public schools report that bullying among kids occurs on a daily or weekly basis? And that one in five high school students report being bullied in the past year?
You as a parent can do your part at home. Here are three smart strategies to keep kids from becoming targets and stop bullying that has already started:
1. Talk about it. Talk about bullying with your kids and have other family members share their experiences. If one of your kids opens up about being bullied, praise him or her for being brave enough to discuss it and offer unconditional support. Consult with the school to learn its policies and find out how staff and teachers can address the situation.
2. Keep calm and carry on. If a bully strikes, a kid’s best defense may be to remain calm, ignore hurtful remarks, tell the bully to stop, and simply walk away. Bullies thrive on hurting others. A child who isn’t easily ruffled has a better chance of staying off a bully’s radar.
3. Don’t try to fight the battle yourself. Sometimes talking to a bully’s parents can be constructive, but it’s generally best to do so in a meeting with the school principal and governing body.
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