"Tips for Helping Children Deal with Bullies"

The following is an article I found that was compiled by Dakota County with information from pta.org and Cornell University...

Bullying isn’t just a "part of growing up" - it’s a form of harassment that can have serious consequences. All forms of bullying are detrimental to a child’s self-confidence, but bullying behaviors such as put-downs, teasing, name-calling and threats can escalate to violence. The evening news has shown the serious outcomes of violent actions by bullies as well as victims seeking revenge. One of the best ways to safeguard your children from becoming victims of a bully is to teach them how to be assertive – not aggressive.

Encourage your children to:
• Express their feelings clearly
• Say no when they feel pressured or uncomfortable
• Stand up for themselves verbally without fighting
• Walk away

Parents can:
• Keep communication lines open by encouraging children to share information about school and school-related activities.
• Pay attention to symptoms that may indicate your child is being bullied.
• If your child is a victim of bullying at school, inform school officials immediately.

How can we prevent bullying? Research finds that teaching children empathy is a good way to keep them from hurting others. Tips for building empathy include:
• Explain the effects of your child’s behavior on others. Help him or her understand the importance of sharing and being kind.
• When your child has hurt someone or caused distress, explain why the behavior is harmful and suggest to make amends.
• Encourage your children to discuss their feelings and problems.
• Limit exposure to violent video games, movies and music.

Bullying is harmful to both the victim and the perpetrator. A combined effort between parents, youth, schools and community members is needed in order to eliminate bullying and harassment.