Bullying can be verbal, physical or emotional, and psychological. Verbal bullying involves threats or name-calling while physical bullying involves punching, pushing, or hitting.
But…
Emotional or psychological bullying involves excluding an individual from an activity or a conversation or spreading rumors.
Bullying also occurs online through social media, text messages, emails, and posts on social media. Known as cyberbullying, the exchanges are usually aggressive and hurtful with harmful effects that seep back into school afterward.
Is your child a victim of cyberbullying?
Knowledge of whether your kid is a victim of cyberbullying or not is the first step to fighting this vice. Some symptoms of bullying to look out for include:
- Fears and worries
- Physical complaints such as tummy aches
- Your kid not wanting to go to school
- Withdrawal or avoidance of things that make your kid stressed
Social-emotional education can help parents to determine if their kids are victims of bullying. If your kid is a victim, you need to find out what’s actually going on. Discuss with your kids their social situation and ask them relevant questions.
Develop good communication with your kid. Keep communications general about school for younger kids. However, if you suspect bullying or if your child has raised an issue, ask questions to get more details.
Kids are more aware of peer relationships as they grow older.
So…
Be direct with your questions to get the right information you want. Listen carefully to what your kids share when they talk and control your own emotions.
Your kids need reassurance, a listening ear, and support to overcome bullying. Be stable and strong to assist your kid out of the social situation.
Feed your kids with nutritious foods to strengthen and prepare them for bullies at school. Let them carry drinking water to keep their bodies hydrated. And, make sure you have a water softener at home to soften well water for safe drinking.
The best water softener supports simple installation and efficient use. Make sure that your salt-free water softener has the ability to conserve energy and save money.
Help your kids and prepare them to deal with mistreatment from their peers. Here’re ways you can make your kids bullying-proof:
Model respectful and compassionate relationships
Kids who live and grow up in respectful environments can identify disrespect directed at them and rebel against it immediately.
Avoid using force or power to control your kids. Instead, nurture loving and respectful relationships to effectively protect them from bullying or being bullies.
Kids can either be bullies or become victims of bullying depending on how you bring them up. They’re likely to respond to interpersonal issues with physical violence if you spank them.
Studies link physical disciplining of kids with bullying behaviors.
Discipline techniques based on power teach kids to either use power on other kids or allow others to use power over them. Kids perceive punishment as a way adults use power or force to have their way. This teaches them that bullying is acceptable.
Use peaceful or compassionate discipline to punish your kids.
Stay connected to your kids in all situations
Lonely kids are susceptible to bullying. And, kids hesitate to talk about bullying because they’re usually ashamed of the experiences. Your kid is likely to share their experiences and things that upset them if they know you’ll listen and support them.
Successful parenting is 20% guidance and 80% connection, developing a close relationship with your kid. A close relationship ensures that the guidance you give sticks. It’ll drive your kid away if there’s no connection.
Keep communication lines open and develop a close relationship with your kid. Make this a priority in parenting.
Instill respectful and confident behavior when dealing with others
When you show disrespect to other people in the presence of your kids, you’re teaching them to do the same to others. It’s also not right to back down because you don’t want to make a scene only to complain later.
Find ways to assert your rights or needs without being disrespectful to others. Teach your kids to respect others even when they disagree. They learn from watching you do things and react to situations.
Teach basic social skills
Bullies often prey on vulnerable kids. Teach your kids basic social skills to make them less attractive to bullies. Play games based on social skills and practice them with your kid to make them less susceptible to bullying.
Teach your kid how to introduce themselves to other kids at school. Role play how to join games at the school playground, or initiate a playdate.
Show them how to observe groups first to find suitable ways to fit into them instead of just barging in to avoid rejection.
Kids can continue to hang around groups with leaders who mistreat them because they’re desperate for peer acceptance. Listen to your kids’ perception of peer interactions if you suspect they’re vulnerable.
Teach them to use their inner wisdom to check when things aren’t right and what to do. They need to know how to identify opportunities for developing healthy relationships.
Let your kid know how bullying works
Verbal harassment is the beginning of bullying. How your child responds to the first instance of verbal aggression indicates whether the bully goes on to target him or not. If the bully gains a feeling of power from the aggression, it’s likely to worsen.
Discuss bullying with your kid and help them understand it. This empowers them to stand up for themselves when a bully targets them.
Conclusion
Role-play bullying with your kid to help them learn how to respond to provocations and teasers. Teach them to maintain their dignity and withdraw from impending bullying situations. The direct, respectful assertion is helpful. Kids must be strong, calm, and use a self-assured tone to respond to bullies. There’s no shame in being bullied or asking for help. Teach your kids to intervene when they see other kids being bullied.
