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5 ways to bulletproof your kids against bullying



There is less tolerance for bullying in schools now, but many parents still don’t know how to protect their kids against it. Here are five ways to help them cope...

1. Try role-playing
For kids of any age, particularly little ones, the easiest way to teach them how to deal with a bully is to role-play. Show them how to stand up, tell another child that they don’t like being hit or teased, and then walk away. If they learn early that the best way to handle a bully is to show strength and walk away, they’re much better equipped to deal with problems when they get to ‘big school’.

2. Lead by example
Being a good role model doesn’t just mean you should never bully anyone yourself. It’s also important to model confident behaviour. If your kids hear you complaining that you’re not good at anything or you’re not able to stand up to a difficult person at work, they will be listening and learning.

3. Set realistic goals
Confident kids are less likely to be bullied. The best way to instil confidence in them is to help them to be realistic. Whether they’re upset their drawing isn’t perfect or they’re not the best swimmer, help them to understand they’re expecting too much. Encourage them to enjoy learning, rather than aiming for perfection. Perfectionism should be stamped out as soon as you notice it.

4. Resolve conflict
If you always step in when the kids are fighting with each other, they never learn how to resolve things. If you hear or see your kids squabbling, leave them be for a while to see if they can sort it out themselves. If you do step in, encourage them to use their words and tell their sibling what the problem is or what they want.

5. Teach about empathy
When you teach your kids to have empathy for others, they begin to understand that another child’s behaviour may be due to a lack of confidence or a difficult home life. When they have empathy for others, they are less inclined to take things so personally and their confidence can remain high. And an empathic child is less likely to become a bully themselves.