Helping Kids Stand Up to Bullies

Unfortunately, many children are exposed to bullying, and all must be protected. As a parent, it
can be devastating to learn that someone is hurting your child by bullying them. When another
child uses aggressive and unwanted behavior, embarrassing information, physical strength,
power or popularity to harm or control another child, and if it's your child, you'll want to take
action. A child cannot be insulated from bullying, but you can teach them the skills necessary
to protect themselves.

Respect and compassion are invaluable characteristics that you should instill in your children when they are young. When children are accustomed to being respected, they will automatically rebel against bullies that treat them poorly. Make sure your child is surrounded by respectful, loving relationships, so they will not be influenced by force or power. Physical discipline has long been associated with bullying behavior and teaches the child to wield power.


Lonely children are often bullied and are ashamed to talk to their parents about the mistreatment.
When the parental relationship is prioritized, communication will not become a problem. Take an
active role in your child's school life, if possible. It's not always easy to be an active PTA member
if you're working to support your family, but if you are able to make the effort, be present during
these meetings and volunteer for events.

Children learn their behavior from their parents, and if you teach them that self-assertion and
respect are important, they'll be more equipped to stand up for themselves. Providing the right words to stand up for themselves without disrespecting the other children is a positive step.


When a child understands what bullies hope to achieve, they can stand up to the bully from the
beginning. This can be accomplished by roleplaying so the child understands provocation and
teasing. The child must understand while they cannot control the actions of the bully, they
can control their behavior.


Above all else, every child needs to know that nothing is more important than their life. Being
scared by a bully is not shameful, and there's no shame in asking for help by telling an adult
about it. If your child does come to you to let you know they're being hassled by a bully, be open
minded and refrain from getting angry or sad. It's very painful when our children are bullied,
but if they get a negative reaction from you after telling you about the problem, they'll be less
likely to come back to you with more issues. Instead, take a positive step by teaching your child
how to deal with the bullies.

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