Guest column: Bullying: What you and your child’s teachers can do to stop it

The following appeared in the spring 2023 Ocean Pines Report quarterly newsletter: /documents/20124/91011/OP_newsletter_v55no3_web.pdf/48fe5b2d-9750-8028-7c2a-eba214908eba

 
Bullying happens often at school, or on social media among kids who are classmates. This means that educators play a key role in stopping bullying behavior when they see it happen. Educators and families can also make a big difference in preventing bullying before it starts. When educators plan activities that create a welcoming school environment, they help prevent bullying.

Teachers are asked to do a lot in modern times – teach, discipline, act as social worker, counselor, work with others to provide healthy meals, be aware of mental health issues, and last but not least learn to protect their students from in-school violence. It's a complicated job, and never has there been a time when "it takes a village to raise a child" has never been truer. Bullying is also a main cause of youth suicide. What can families and teachers do to stop it before it happens?

Understand that bullying is a hurtful to-way street. It harms the victim of course, but it also harms the bully. Both kids need guidance.

Model kindness and respect. By treating others with kindness and respect, adults show the kids in their lives that there is no place for bullying.

Bullying isn't just an issue for families and teachers – it's a community concern. Identify partners such as mental health specialists, neighborhood associations, service groups, faith-based organizations, and businesses that interact with young people.

Involve youth. Teens can take leadership roles in bullying prevention among younger kids.

How do you recognize the signs that a child is being bullied? Kids are good at hiding their emotions.
 

• Be aware of excuses to stay home from school: faking illness, feeling sick
• Lost or torn clothing, lost electronics, lost school supplies can indicate that other kids are picking on a bullying victim
• Unexplained bruises or cuts
• Falling grades
• Sleeplessness, anger, mood swings

If an older sibling begins to bully younger siblings, that is a sign that the older child is suffering from bullying.

The first recommended step for families is to try to get your child to open up about what's happening in their life by showing them that you understand and won’t judge them.
Listen: Encourage your child to tell you the whole story. Listen calmly and without interrupting, and reassure them that they've done the right thing by speaking up. Your child may need to tell the story more than once.

Talk: Have a conversation about what happened. Try not to let your very understandable emotions (anger, distress) show. Your feelings can intensify the child's or make it worse for them and might even deter your child from talking to you another time.

Take note: What, when and where did the bullying occurred, who was involved, how often and if anybody else witnessed it. Don't offer to confront the young person or their parents yourself. This might make things worse for your child.

For more information on how families can prevent bullying or stop it in its tracks, visit https://momlovesbest.com/bullying-prevention.