Parents

Bullying

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO TO STOP BULLYING?

1. Ask the child directly. Often children do not wish to tell their parents because they are ashamed and embarrassed or they're afraid that if bullies find out, they'll hurt them. Be aware of signs such as the child acting scared to go to school, not playing with friends like before, missing belongings and torn clothing, and increased fearfulness and anxiety.

2. Communicate with the school immediately to make sure that your child is safe and the bully is being appropriately punished. Ask for the bully's parents to be aware of the behaviour. If the bullying is happening on the way to and from school, arrange for the child to be accompanied by an older, mature student or take him or her yourself until other measures can be taken.

3. If your child is timid and has few or no friends, try to arrange for him or her to get involved in social groups. This can help build confidence and pride.

4. Suggest at a parent-teacher meeting that the school start an anti-bullying program.

WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU'RE BEING BULLIED?

Handling a bully can be difficult. Here are some ways you can deal with bullies:

·Spend time with your friends – bullies hardly ever pick on people if they're with others in a group

·If someone is bullying you, tell an adult you can trust, like a parent, a teacher, a principal or a vice-principal

·If you find it hard to talk about being bullied, try writing down your feelings on paper and showing them to a grownup you can trust

WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU SEE SOMEONE ELSE BEING BULLIED?

If you see someone else being bullied, you should always try to stop it. If you do nothing, you're saying that bullying is okay with you. It's always best to treat others the way you would like to be treated. You should show the bully that you think what they're doing is dumb and rude. Help the person being bullied to tell an adult they can trust.

Make your community a safer place to live for the children,
for now and for the future. Be Smart, Be Safe