Parents are the primary role models for their child and when they model behavior they expect from their child, they teach through actions. You can create a safe and supportive environment be promoting positivity, inclusiveness, and respect. By asking open ended questions, you are allowing your child to communicate about their experiences and appropriate behaviors.
Tips to use to prevent bullying
- Help children understand bullying. Talk to your child about what bullying is and how to stand up to someone safely. Tell your child that bullying is unacceptable and ensure they know how to get help.
- Keep the lines of communication open. Check in with your child often by listening to them and know what they are doing, who their friends are and understand their concerns.
- Encourage kids to do what they love. Encourage your child to partake in a special activity, interest or hobby as it can boost confidence, help make friends and protect them from bullying behavior.
- Model how to treat others. Model positive behaviors by showing kindness and respect to others around you.
Help your child understand bullying
When a child understands and can recognize bullying they are better able to identify it. Children should know ways to safely stand up to bullying and how and where to get help.
- Encourage your child to speak to a trusted adult if they are being bullied or see someone else being bullied. Encourage the child to report bullying if it happens and the adult can give support and further direction.
- Talk about strategies for staying safe. This may include staying near other adults or other group of children.
- Teach your child to help other children who are bullied by showing kindness or assist them in getting help.
Watch these videos to learn what bullying is and share with your child of any age.
Keep the lines of communication open
You play a substantial role in shaping your child’s emotional health. Modeling healthy communication and keeping the lines of communication open shows them that they have a safe and supportive home environment. Start conversations about daily life and their feelings with questions like these:
- What is one good thing that happened today? Did any bad things happen?
- What did you have for lunch today? Who did you sit by?
- What was one thing you did really good at today?
Talking about bullying directly is an important step in understanding how the issue may be affecting your child. Assure them there are no right or wrong answers and that they are not alone with addressing any problems that arise.
Conversation starters about “bullying”
- What does ‘bullying” mean to you?
- Why do you think people bully other people?
- Who would you talk to if someone was bullying you or you saw someone be bullied?
- Do you ever see any other children be bullied? How does it make you feel?
- What would you do if you saw someone be bullied?