Bullying Prevention: How to Help Your Child
School is more than just a place of academic learning. It is also a place for making connections with others. Children enjoy playing with other children. Bullying is defined as aggressive behavior displayed when a person intentionally and repeatedly causes another person fear, injury, or distress. Bullying prevention starts with being committed to providing safe places for children to grow without fear. What makes a bully? Children who bully aren’t necessarily bad kids. Occasionally, they are simply okay kids who made a bad decision. It is important to know that a child bullies another child for many reasons. They seek attention because they lack attention at home. They are bullied by older siblings. They were once a victim of bullying. They are unable to accept the differences of others. They look down on others who are from a lower social class. They want to feel popular, powerful, and in control. They are jealous of their victim. They think that they are entitled to have everything they want. What makes a victim? A child doesn’t just decide that they want to be the victim of bullying. A child can fall prey to a bully just because they happen to be in the wrong place and at the wrong time. Bullying doesn’t just happen to weak children. Some victims are strong and popular. The thing to remember is that the fault does not lie with the victim. It is a choice that the bully makes based on some other issue. Most of the targets of a bully have the following characteristics: Creativity and/or intelligence. Success. Social isolation with few friends. Popularity. Disabilities. A different physical appearance. Different religious beliefs. Cultural differences. Supposed sexual orientation that is different from their biology. Vulnerability. Recognizing that your child is being bullied. The signs of [...]
