KidCo. Productions has partnered with AllMomDoes and CRISTA Media to sponsor this post and bring you this information.
Bullying is a hot topic in schools today, and a major concern for parents. Most parents worry about their child being bullied, and work to prepare them for encountering that type of situation. But what happens if your child is the one exhibiting bullying behavior? Here are some tips on how to identify if this is happening with your student, and how to address the situation.
What are the signs that my child has bullying behavior?
He or she:
- Regularly gets into physical or verbal altercations with others
- Tends to hurt others when parents or authority figures are absent
- Blames others or doesn’t accept responsibility for his/her own actions
- Lacks foresight – unable to consider the long-term or unintended consequences of the results of his/her behavior
- Uses criticism and false allegations (lying) to discount others
- Regularly sent to the principal’s office or detention
- In possession of money or new belongings that cannot be explained
- Likes to always be in control of games, toys and even friends
- Has friends who bully others
What you can do:
ASK YOUR CHILD WHAT HAPPENED: Let them share what happened from their point of view, in a way which encourages them to keep communicating with you and doesn’t shut them down.. Ask them questions to gain insight into their motivation for the behavior.
HELP YOUR CHILD EMPATHIZE: Ask them how they might have felt if they were in the shoes of the student that was the target of the bullying. Would they like to be treated that way? How would being treated like that make them feel? If they can learn to put themselves in another’s shoes, it can help them to understand the consequences of their actions.
TAKE A STAND TOGETHER: As a parent, you set the standard for what is and is not acceptable behavior. Let your student know that you will be checking in with the teachers and/or parent of the child and that you expect your child to apologize to the student they targeted, and brainstorm together what an effective apology might look like.
ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO BE UPSTANDERS INSTEAD OF BYSTANDERS: Many students get wrapped up in bullying because they happen to be friends with someone who also exhibits bullying behavior. Explain to your student that even if they do not actively take part in bullying, they have a duty to stand up against it when they witness it. Studies show that students who are bystanders to bullying behavior are more motivated to take a stand and do something if adults have communicated this expectation. If 1 in 5 students are targets, 4 out of 5 can be UPstanders and make an impact against bullying. Discuss how your student might be an UPstander instead of a bystander. Encourage your student to show other students the value of themselves by adding value to those around them. If your student feels empowered, we believe they can take a stand and spring into action as leaders in their communities.
KidCo. Productions is a free program that is offered to schools in Pierce County made possible by those in the community who see the need for this message to be spread to all students. If you are interested in investing in the safety and well-being of students, please check out http://kidcoproductions.com/contact.html
Want more information about KidCo. Productions and our message of character building and bully prevention? Check out our website at www.kidcoproductions.com
