Parent Information
- Overview
- PowerSchool Parent Directions
- I-40 Closure & Directions to Career Center
- Cell Phone Dilemma
- Parent - School Compact
- Disciplining Teenagers
- Disease Prevention
- Effective Discipline
- Getting Your Teen to Help Out at Home
- Good Study Habits Begin at Home
- Growth and Development: Ages 12 - 15
- Growth and Development: Ages 16 - 18
- H1N1 Information
- Helping Your Child with Test Taking
- How to Report an Incident of Internet Crime
- How to Talk/Listen to Your Child
- Importance of School Attendance
- Internet Safety - What Parents Should Know
- Keeping Your Child Healthy This Winter
- Keeping Your Teen Safe
- Lying, Cheating, and Stealing
- On-Line School Payments
- Parent Involvement
- Parent Links
- Parenting in a Tough Economy
- Parents Need Support
- Preventing Bullying in the Neighborhood
- Protecting Your Teen from Sexual Harassment
- Raising Great Teens
- Steps to Prepare for the Flu
- Talking About Tragic Events
- Teen Alcohol Use
- Teens and Body Image
- Ten Ways to be a Great Dad
- Volunteers
- What if My Child is a Bully?
- What if My Child is being Bullied?
- When Your Child Starts Dating
- Financial Support Through External Organizations
- 123giveback.com
- Progress Report / Report Card Distribution 2011-12
- Non-Discremination Policy - copy
- Atkins High School
- Preventing Bullying in the Neighborhood
-
Victims of bullying are not just those who are being bullied, but also those who bully and those who see it happening, or bystanders. The majority of children feel uncomfortable watching a bullying situation; however, research shows that they rarely act to stop the bullying.
Communicating To Prevent Bullying
Your child may be afraid to talk about his experience for fear of being bullied for tattling, and sometimes your child may feel pressured to participate in the bullying. Bullying can be prevented and it has to start early as bullying behavior can begin as early as preschool. Below are a few basic tips to help you prevent your child from becoming a bystander, a victim, or a bully, including how to promote respectful behavior.- Talk about bullying.What it means, different kinds of bullying, why kids bully. Explain to your child that he can help to stop bullying by telling you or another adult when they see or experience bullying of any kind.
- Keep the lines of communication open.The majority of bullying takes place at school, and the best thing you can do is keep the lines of communication open by asking and talking about school, and your child's friends, and being involved in your child's school life.
- Talk to your child's school. What is their policy on bullying? Do they have a bullying prevention program? If not, become an advocate for school-wide prevention programs and policies.
One way to prevent your child from becoming a bully or a bystander is to help your child learn respectful behavior. The Committee for Children suggests the following strategies to help you teach and reinforce this type of behavior.- Spend time with your child.Plan time each day to talk with your child (link to 15 minutes sheet)about any joys or difficulties he encountered. When problems come up,help him think of respectful, cooperative ways to solve them.
- Know your child's friends and their parents. When your child is away from home, make sure that you know and trust the children she spends time with and their parents.
- Be consistent about discipline.Hold your child responsible for negative or hurtful behavior, but avoid using public put-downs and physical punishment. (These methods validate causing shame and using physical violence as solutions to problems.)Make sure that your child understands the consequences of his actions.
- Eliminate toys, games, and TV shows that reward aggression. Villains and heroes often successfully use violence and aggression to reach their goals. The negative consequences that should follow are rarely seen. Some children learn how to bully by seeing it on television or in video games.
- Encourage your child to be slow to take offense.Often, children who bully are quick to interpret innocent actions as hostile (such as being hit by a stray elbow in the hall). Teach your child to stay cool and calm by counting to ten or trying self-talk. For example, your child could say to himself, don't get mad about little stuff like this. Praise your child for choosing respectful, non-aggressive responses.
- Make sure your child knows what other kids expect.Respectful behaviors we have all learned include taking turns or apologizing when you accidentally hurt someone. Observe your child playing with others. Are there unspoken rules that he doesn't understand? If so, discuss them with him privately.
- Help your child see other points of view. Children who bully often have difficulty interpreting facial expressions or tone of voice. They forget to consider other children's feelings. Explore with your child how she might feel in the shoes of someone else.
This information was compiled by Sunindia Bhalla, One Tough Job Manager, and reviewed by the Program Staff of the Massachusetts Children's Trust Fund.
- Talk about bullying.What it means, different kinds of bullying, why kids bully. Explain to your child that he can help to stop bullying by telling you or another adult when they see or experience bullying of any kind.
Last Modified on July 13, 2017