Bullying with a Capital “B” Part 2

Send us Fan MailI gave a lot of statistics last week about bullying, defined what bullying is and looked at the four types of bullying. We also gave a few ways you can help your child if they tell you they are being bullied. This week we are going to look at some traits kids who are bullied often have, and some ways you can help your child if they are being bullied.First, let’s look at some common traits children who are bullied have:They give in easily to the aggressor’s demands.They lack self-confidence and have low self-esteem.They are unable to project and air of indifference to verbal abuse.They are anxious and fearful.They exhibit an extreme emotional response to the abuse.They lack the skills needed to turn the situation around with humor or other verbal strategies.They have few friends.They are ineffective in rebuffing a bully in the first encounter, encouraging repeat attacks.Some things parents can do:Create a safe and non-judgmental environment for your child to talk about their bullying. Encourage them to share what's happening and how it makes them feel.Show empathy and reassurance to your child. Let them know you are there for them.Remind your child to pray and ask for God’s help. Remind them that bullies are the ones who usually have low self-esteem and use bullying to make themselves feel more important.Encourage your child to keep a record of bullying incidents, including dates, times, locations, and descriptions of what happened. This can be helpful if the situation escalates and you need to report it to someone.Reach out to your child's school if bullying continues. Provide them with the documented incidents and request that they take action.Help your child develop assertiveness skills to stand up for themselves calmly and confidently. Role-playing an be a useful tool for practicing these skills. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, perhaps a school counselor could help.Foster your child's self-confidence and self-worth by engaging them in activities they excel in and by emphasizing their positive qualities.Encourage your child to form healthy friendships outside of school.If your child is experiencing severe emotional distress or the bullying persists, consider involving a therapist or a counselor to help them cope.Monitor online activity—be aware of your child's online presence and encourage responsible internet use.In extreme cases or when physical harm is involved, consider involving law enforcement.Even if your child is not being bullied, it’s likely he or she knows someone who is. We should teach our children to be defenders and not to be afraid to protect other people. Research has shown that more than half of the time (57%), when children intervene and play the role of “defender,” bullying stops within 10 seconds.Some basic rules to teach your child about bullying:I will not bully other.I will try to help other children who are bullied.I will try to include other children who are left out.If I know somebody is being bullied, I will tell an adult at school or my parents.I will pray both for those who are being bullied and those who are bullying others.Sources used for this podcast:National Bullying Prevention Center. https://www.pacer.org/bullying/ https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/teach-childrn-deal-bullying/https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/empowering-your-child-to-deal-with-bullies) Check out the Questions for Kids picture book series, perfect for young readers ages 5-10! Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️Visit our websites at: https://www.karenferg.com/https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ Find our books on Amazon:Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true Sandra Chambers: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sandra-Chambers/author/B00OHLARMO?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1740085397&sr...