Bullying
There are multiple ways that a child might be bullied in the 21st century, but there are ways you can protect your kids and are even things you are able to do if they have already been bullied. Here’s a look at what to do to lessen the chance that your offspring will be bullied and what options you have after the fact.
Provide Clear Boundaries and Expectations
One thing that you should always consider is letting your children know what the rules and expectations are for them. If they are supposed to do chores, let them know what needs to be finished and by when. This includes setting bedtimes, addressing concerns about behavior and anything else that they are curious about. When your kids know what you expect of them and that you care enough to provide them with discipline, this can go a long way into building up their confidence.
Monitor Computer Usage
It is also a good idea to monitor your child’s computer usage when possible. This means limiting how much time they can spend on social media sites, playing video games, or talking to friends online. If there are websites that you don’t want them to visit, you can block them or add restrictions to the browser or through the use of your antivirus software.
Keep an Open Dialogue
You should also keep an open dialogue with your kids. If they feel like they aren’t heard and that you are only telling them what to do and not hearing their concerns, this may cause them to not want to speak with you about their problems or how they are feeling. On the other hand, when they know that they can talk to you about an issue, they may tell you before a problem arises.
Talk to Your Children When They are Upset
If you notice that your kids are upset or they are acting in a way that is out of character for them, you should make sure to talk to them when you notice this. They may be experiencing a problem at school or need advice.
After the Fact
Even if you do all of the things above, your child could still be bullied, since it is quite prevalent with around 20% of all students experiencing bullying at some point.
To learn more about how bullying can affect your child, check out BetterHelp for more details.
Find out Exactly What Happened
Once you find out that your child has been bullied, you need to determine what happened. You should talk to your kid and get the full story. Be sure not to pressure them for details, however. Give them all the time that they need to give you the rundown. It may be traumatic for your little one, where they are embarrassed or shy when it comes to talking about it.
Save Any Records You Can
If your child has been bullied online, it is important to save all the records of the incidents that you can. These could be anything from chat transcripts to emails or social media posts. Furthermore, if your child is being bullied online, you may be able to send this information to the site that it occurred on, where they may monitor a bully’s usage or ban their account.
Talk to Your Child’s School
When your child has been bullied at school, you will probably want to meet with the principal to learn more about what will be done to prevent this type of occurrence in the future. Together you can figure out a way to make things right, or you can consider placing your child in a different school.
Seek Therapy if Necessary
You should take notice of how your child is behaving after they have been affected by bullying. If they no longer take interest in things or are not eating or sleeping properly, you might need to take them to meet with a therapist. A professional may be able to help them work past how they are feeling about being bullied and assist them in learning how to assert themselves in the future.
Conclusion
There are ways to prevent bullying, but this isn’t always possible. It may also be helpful to understand how to aid your child even after they have been bullied. Be sure that you are being supportive, letting them know you are there for them, and seeking therapy for your kid if need be. These things may help your child be able to keep from being bullied or affected again, if it has already happened.
Author: Marie Miguel
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
