Bullying has become a major issue that is found worldwide in all walks of life. From the new kid on the playground to the over-powering neighbor. We will specifically address the issue among children and teens and how parents can help.
A good place to start is to talk to your kids about bullying. Let them know what it is and how you feel about it. Make sure that they understand it is not ok for someone to bully them, for them to bully others, or for them to stand by and watch while someone else is being bullied. Then continue talking to them everyday. Ask them about their friends and activities at school. Watch for clues on how they are feeling when they tell you about their activities and the people they are spending time with. If they seem nervous, depressed, or upset try to get more information from them.
Set a good example while parenting your kids. Children and teenagers learn a lot from watching other people and particularly their parents. If they see you treating someone unkindly they will assume that it is ok and appropriate behavior and will follow your example. If you are consistently kind and respectful to everyone that you deal with, they will learn to treat others the same way.
If you are already having behavior issues with your child or teen you may want to consider looking into a behavior contract that will give them specific information on what is acceptable and unacceptable and what the consequences are for each action. If we all work together and are more conscious of what is going on around us we can help stop the violence and bullying problems that are becoming so prevalent in the world today.
