It is highly rare that parents will be told by their own kids about the bullying experience they are living. In the meanwhile, it is highly possible that they are experiencing feelings of insecurity on how to respond to the whole situation. This makes it essentially important to bear in mind those cautioning signs indicating your kid is a bullying target. One of these signs is a lack of interest in using the restrooms at school. This is because many bullies prefer to hurt their victims in the restrooms, where no one can see them — not even their parents or surveillance cameras. Other signs imply becoming more reclusive and avoiding things that they used to enjoy; or avoiding activities and places where adults aren’t watching; getting angry when they receive a phone call, text message, or email; becoming more socially isolated; having fewer friends than they used to have; spending more time alone in their rooms; indulging in negative self-talk.

Nevertheless, there are things that you may do in order to determine what the root of the issue is and how to fix it. Should you have any reason to believe that your kid is being bullied at school, the following are some of the steps you can make and actions you must take to protect them.

Make it a priority to give your kid the very finest care that is available

Your number one concern as a parent is making sure that your kid has access to the necessities of life. Sadness is a common emotion among younger people. However, you should keep an eye on what they are doing to ensure that they are not putting themselves or anyone else in danger. Your kid will be in an even more difficult situation if you choose to disregard the bullying and take no action to stop it. Give it everything you’ve got to make it happen.

When you show your love and concern for your kid, they will experience a significant improvement in their mood. It can be good to pay attention to the topics of conversation that your kid is interested in having. If you show interest in how your kid is feeling, it will make it easier for them to talk to you about whatever it is that’s hurting them and to feel comfortable doing so.

While you are working through the various levels of this situation, don’t forget to come back to this one. Always remember that the care of your kids falls squarely on your shoulders.

You should not take your anger out on the bully’s family or friends

No matter how tempting it might be, you shouldn’t take matters into your own hands and try to get even with the bully or his family. This would only make the situation worse. Now is the time to demonstrate to your kid how to deal with and triumph over adversity by setting a good example for them.

It can feel like a ton of bricks has been dropped on you, as a parent, when you learn that your kid is in danger. You want the pain to stop as quickly as it possibly can, which is understandable. Bear in mind, however, that your kid will not benefit from getting even with another person in order to sort out the problem or feel better about himself. Instead, you should take a moment to calm down and concentrate on how you can help your kid cope with the situation in the most effective manner.

Teach your kid how to respond appropriately when faced with challenges such as these

Kids who have difficulty controlling their anger are frequently the targets of bullies. They go towards other kids who have short tempers and cannot accept being teased or laughed at. The vast majority of the time, these kids either choose not to protect themselves or are simply unable to triumph physically. The duty of bringing up a kid who is socially competent is an important one for you as parents. Assist your kid in formulating responses to bullying at school and encourage him to discuss his feelings with you, especially if he has feelings of insecurity.

By taking part in role plays together, you and your kids will have the opportunity to practice remaining unresponsive to the statements made by bullies. Your kid may not be able to immediately put an end to the bullying, but he can remove himself from the situation and look for someone he can confide in to talk to about it.

Find out the truth and document it

Ask your kid in a kind but direct way whether anyone else is doing anything that might make your kid feel uncomfortable, humiliated, or sad about himself. Use open-ended inquiries to encourage your kid to share ideas, moments, or particular experiences. If you already have a general understanding of what’s going on, your next step should be to realize if you can acquire more precise information. You may ask your kid on possible bad messages on social media; how many of them were meant for your kid and when the whole thing began.

Next, make contact with other people who could have more information. You are interested in learning what has been going on, who has been involved, when and where it has taken place. Though, before you reach out directly to the other kids or adults who are bullying others, think carefully about what you want to say.

Make it a point to collect any records that can shed light on the bullying. It is possible to save SMS and emails and then print them out. You can also save voice messages and snap screenshots of social media platforms and online discussion forums.

Write down the bullying experience and describe it in details

Put in writing whatever you can remember about what you’ve discovered. Make an effort to compile a timeline of events and when they occurred. Together, you should go over the chronology if you believe your kid is capable of handling it. This may not be something that can be accomplished in a single session. Describe the bullying experience to another person, such as a reliable friend or a member of the family. Inquire about the feedback to make sure you have described everything in detail. This way you avoid losing important facts or truths.

Make the school aware of the bullying, and keep an eye on how it is handled

If the bullying is taking place in the classroom, you should talk to the instructor. If you think it would be beneficial, invite the school’s principal to participate. If the bullying is taking place between classes or at recess, you should report it to the principal immediately.

Inquire with the school staff about whether or not they have witnessed the bullying and how they have responded to it. Tell them how your child was bullied, along with any papers that support it. Ask the school what they want to do and when they intend to take any actions. Follow up with anything in writing – an email is OK – describing what you talked about.

When bullying is brought to the attention of the school, anti-bullying regulations at the state level may mandate a particular inquiry and disciplinary procedure. Request that the school provide you with written updates on the status of this procedure.

Keep an eye on the acts that the school takes. In the event that the bullying persists, make sure to keep track of any additional incidences. Inform the school about the most recent instances, and inquire about the measures that will be taken. Always remember to be in touch with your kid and offer comfort during these difficult times.

Get legal aid

Get in touch with a lawyer if the bullying[1] behavior continues. If you are still not seeing any progress, you may want to seek the assistance of a lawyer who is a specialist in education law.

REFERENCE

[1] https://www.stopbullying.gov/