top of page

Different Ways To Prevent Bullying

Ways To Prevent Bullying As A Parent

1. Keep Communication Line Open

Talking to your child openly about their friends from an early age helps you establish good communication with them. It’s reassuring for them to know you’re interested in what they do and that you have their back at all times. Encourage them to talk openly about their day. Ask them open-ended questions which will encourage a response.

2. Educate Your Child About Bullying

Verbal bulling includes name calling, insults, teasing, intimidation, homophobic or racist remarks, or verbal abuse. While verbal bullying can start off harmless, it can escalate to levels which start affecting the individual target.

3. Teach Your Child Not To Bully

We have mentioned how children will follow role models. Make sure your behavior sets a good example. Teach them not to spread rumors or single children out because they are different. Encourage empathy with others, and discourage adding to bullying in any way. Tell your child they don’t have to condone a bully’s behavior just to fit in.

Children also need to know that being a bully has consequences at home, school, and the community. They can lose privileges and even face criminal charges.

4. Boost You Child's Confidence

​​

A child who is encouraged and nurtured is likely to have more self-esteem and confidence. This can reduce the likelihood of them being bullied. Children who take part in activities they love can also have more confidence. This could be playing an instrument, cooking, playing ball, or dancing. Their success in their chosen hobby will give them a sense of achievement. The expertise they gain will make them feel proud of themselves and help them connect with other children. Other school activities can also help a child feel involved and build friendships. Joining a school club that interests them, volunteering, taking part in a school play, or playing sports are just a few ideas. Having friends with the same interests can help keep the bullies at bay.

5. Get Yourself Involved

You can stay updated with what’s going on at your child’s school by getting yourself involved. Go to school events and even volunteer to help. There are simple ways that parents and caregivers can keep up to date with kids’ lives. Get to know your child’s friends’ parents and make an effort to meet teachers and counselors. When class newsletters or school flyers come home, make sure you read them. Talk about them with your children, so they know you’re interested. It helps you to know the school’s policies on bullying.

6. Reporting Bullying

Knowing how bullying is handled at your child’s school will enable you to know who to contact in the event of an incident. It will also set clear expectations of how the school might handle the situation. Schools take a proactive approach to bullying. You would be right to expect a school to deal with it quickly, efficiently, and firmly when it occurs.

Ways To Prevent Bullying As A Kid

     Treat Everyone With Respect

Nobody should be mean to others.

  • Stop and think before you say or do something that could hurt someone.

  • If you feel like being mean to someone, find something else to do. Play a game, watch TV, or talk to a friend.

  • Talk to an adult you trust. They can help you find ways to be nicer to others.

  • Keep in mind that everyone is different. Not better or worse. Just different.  

  • If you think you have bullied someone in the past, apologize. Everyone feels better.

   Get involved

You can be a leader in preventing bullying in your community.

  • Find out more about where and when bullying happens at your school. Think about what could help. Then, share your ideas. There is a good chance that adults don’t know all of what happens. Your friends can go with you to talk to a teacher, counselor, coach, or parent and can add what they think.

  • Talk to the principal about getting involved at school. Schools sometimes give students a voice in programs to stop bullying. Be on a school safety committee. Create posters for your school about bullying. Be a role model for younger kids.

  • Write a blog, letter to the editor of your local newspaper, or tweet about bullying.

     What To do If You Are Bullied

There are things you can do if you are being bullied:

  • Look at the kid bullying you and tell him or her to stop in a calm, clear voice. You can also try to laugh it off. This works best if joking is easy for you. It could catch the kid bullying you off guard.

  • If speaking up seems too hard or not safe, walk away and stay away. Don’t fight back. Find an adult to stop the bullying on the spot.

There are things you can do to stay safe in the future, too.

  • Talk to an adult you trust. Don’t keep your feelings inside. Telling someone can help you feel less alone. They can help you make a plan to stop the bullying.

  • Stay away from places where bullying happens.

  • Stay near adults and other kids. Most bullying happens when adults aren’t around.

   Stand-Up For Others

When you see bullying, there are safe things you can do to make it stop.

  • Talk to a parent, teacher, or another adult you trust. Adults need to know when bad things happen so they can help.

  • Be kind to the kid being bullied. Show them that you care by trying to include them. Sit with them at lunch or on the bus, talk to them at school, or invite them to do something. Just hanging out with them will help them know they aren’t alone.

Not saying anything could make it worse for everyone. The kid who is bullying will think it is ok to keep treating others that way.

bottom of page