Guest writer by Andrea Gibbs from Baby Steps Daycare in Forest Hills, New York

Raising a bully-free child can sometimes be a little challenging. In an ideal world, our little ones would be valued and respected by everyone they come into contact with. Sadly, this is not the case. Bullying and physical or emotional harassment is a prevalent problem that has been around since the dawn of time.

But parents can do something about it! Raising a bully-free child is just as important to them as it is to you. Teach your young child how to identify and avoid bullying. This will give them a better chance of being confident, well-adjusted adults.

There are three basic steps that you can take to help in raising a bully-free child. By following these practical steps, you will be able to help your child develop self-confidence. This is the most important thing in building a bully-proof personality.

Teach Your Child How To Identify A Bully

A bully is different than a victim in several ways. A bullying victim might be lonely or feel like they have no friends. As a bully may be seen as overly aggressive or rude by others. The victim of bullying is usually defenseless in the face of the bully’s attacks and will often receive all of the blame for the situation, even though their actions did not deserve punishment.

You can talk to your child about how to identify a bully. You can start by explaining bullying to them. And then provide examples of bullying behaviors you have seen other people engage in. For instance,

• Yelling at someone to get their attention.
• Name-calling, especially if it is particularly hurtful.
• Pushing or hitting someone.
• Spreading rumors or gossiping about a person, even if that person is not present and cannot defend themselves.
• Ostracizing another student by making social activities into cliques. This includes telling everyone not to invite someone to a birthday party or get-togethers with friends and actively avoiding another person at school or in public.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it should give you a good idea of what behaviors to watch out for with your child.

Letting your child know that they are not alone and that other children have been victims of bullying will go a long way in easing their fears. Be sure to explain that bullies usually target the most vulnerable individuals because they are easy targets. This will help them feel confident during school hours and allow them to stand up for themselves if necessary.

Teach Your Little One How To Respond To Bullying

Children should know how to respond when they are being bullied. A good response will not only help them protect themselves from further damage, but it will also help them stand up for what is right. Your child can give several different kinds of responses to a bullying situation.

If your child is being verbally abused, you might want to teach them how to fight the name-calling bully by telling the bully that their words are hurtful and don’t make sense. Making the bully feel foolish will make them less likely to continue their bullying habits.

If your child is being physically bullied, they should try to get away from the attacker. They should also not retaliate or attempt to strike back. Your child must know that they do not have to put up with any kind of physical aggression. And they should not feel responsible for the actions of a bully.

Teaching your child how to talk back in a mature manner will help them learn how to stand up for themselves without becoming violent or verbally abusive.

Get A Buddy (And Be A Buddy)

Your child needs to know that it is okay to seek out help from their newly-found friends during a bullying situation. This is where having a “buddy” comes in handy. A buddy can be like a parent, teacher, or counselor.

By getting help, your child will not feel as isolated and alone in their situation. Getting the support, they need from someone they trust will make them feel better about the bullying they are experiencing and give them the confidence they need to put an end to it.

Bullying is an unfortunate part of growing up. If you’re a parent or guardian, prevention starts at home. Teach your child how to identify a bully and teach them their role in bullying prevention. By doing so, they will be able to build confident and respectful characters that are both cherished by others and themselves.

Don’t forget to visit the website followbreza.com and check out the author, Mary Abbruzzese and her children’s book Follow Breza to Preschool. The book is for little ones who may be apprehensive about starting school.

Author Bio

Andrea Gibbs was Born, raised, and still lives in New York. She’s a work-at-home mom with a background in business development, strategy, and social media marketing. A blog contributor at Baby Steps Daycare in Forest Hills, New York who’s goal is to motivate and educate other parents about how they can get their children ahead of the game in school.