You can teach your kids that there are ways to deal with bullies that don’t involve violence. Kicking and punching may do more harm than good and you don’t want your kids to turn into bullies themselves in reaction to being bullied.
Not reacting at all is just as bad as it signals to bullies that they can continue with their unacceptable behavior. There are other ways your kids can avoid being targeted by bullies or defend themselves against them. Here are five strategies that will help them to defend themselves.
- Identify when they are being bullied
Sometimes kids find it difficult to distinguish between joking and bullying. They don’t know when someone crosses the line and may put up with unacceptable behavior that undermines their confidence. You can help them to recognize the signs of bullying.
Bullying comes in many forms, from threats and rumors to name-calling or physical attacks. Of course, social media has introduced a whole new way for kids to be bullied.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to bullying because many factors, such as age and severity, will determine the best course of action. However, if your kids understand more about bullying, they know that they don’t have to just accept it.
- Talk to someone about it
Make sure your kids know that when someone is threatening them or hurting them, it is acceptable to talk to someone about it. If they accept it quietly and submissively, the bullying won’t stop and is likely to escalate.
Too many kids do not report bullying because they are concerned about retaliation or being thought of as snitches. They should never just be quiet and submissive if they are being subjected to an attack of any kind.
If you want your kid to feel safer, Spy Phone is free tracker app software you can install on your kids’ phones. You can keep track of their movements and they have a panic button for emergencies. Let your kids know that if they’re being bullied, they need to talk to someone about it – whether it’s you, a teacher, or a school counselor.
- Use confident body language
Kids with healthy self-esteem are less likely to be targeted by bullies. If they keep their eyes averted and slouch, they appear weak. If they project self-confidence and make eye contact, bullies are less likely to target them.
Kids often fear bullies and believe that if they stand up to them, they will suffer dire consequences. You have to instill the confidence in them that if they are able to face bullies and look them straight in the eye, they will often back off.
- Stay in a group
There is protection for your kids in being part of a friendship group that goes around together. Bullies are more likely to target loners. If you have a kid who battles to make friends, you need to find ways to encourage him or her to establish friendships. Even if a kid has one or two close friends, this is a deterrent to being bullied.
- Walk away
Too many times, your kids may not realize when they need to walk away. They may think they are being cowards if they leave when someone is taunting them or calling them names.
Teach them that far from being cowardly, it takes courage to turn around and walk away from a situation before it turns really nasty. Being able to recognize when they should walk away rather than engage is one of the best ways to prevent bullying.