| Many children have problems with bullies. They | | | | bully has backed down, they should stop. |
| take many forms. There are bullies who use their | | | | 5. Consider keeping your kids back from |
| physical presence to intimidate. There are bullies | | | | Kindergarten - One very positive outcome of |
| who use their words to intimidate. Either way, we | | | | keeping your kids back a year from Kindergarten |
| as parents want to protect our children from | | | | is that they are older than most of their |
| bullies. | | | | classmates. This is especially important for boys |
| What causes bullies: By and large, bullies are | | | | but is also helpful for girls. They will be bigger |
| children who lack self esteem and suffer from | | | | physically and more mature than their peers which |
| insecurity. They get their validation and boost their | | | | can have a significant impact on whether they |
| fragile egos by preying on other children whom | | | | become the object of bullying. This should not be |
| they perceive to be vulnerable. | | | | the only criteria considered in keeping you kids |
| As parents, our main concern is how to prepare | | | | back, but should be a consideration. |
| our children to keep from becoming a victim of | | | | 6. Teach them to talk to you about Cyber bullying |
| bullies. Below are some suggestions that have | | | | - One of the latest trends in bullying is for it to |
| proven successful over the years. | | | | happen over the internet or via instant messaging. |
| 1. Teach them not to react - At the core, bullies | | | | Teach your kids to talk with you when they see |
| say and do what they do to illicit a reaction from | | | | messages they find rude or intimidating. You can |
| their 'victims'. The first and best way to | | | | help them respond effectively, or get involved to |
| counteract a bully is to ignore him. Teach your | | | | provide feedback to parents and teachers about |
| children that if a bully gets in his face, to smile or | | | | what the other child is doing. |
| laugh and walk away. When doing so, walking | | | | 7. Enroll your kids in martial arts - One of the best |
| towards a teacher or other adult. | | | | things you can do for your kids is to enroll them |
| 2. Teach them to talk with adults - If your | | | | in a martial arts course. These courses teach self |
| children are being bullied, help them understand | | | | defense that is highly effective, but they also instill |
| that it not only affects them, but affects all of | | | | a huge amount of self confidence and self control |
| the children who go to school with them. Help | | | | that can be effective when dealing with bullies. |
| them to understand that bullying is not tolerated | | | | Sometimes, just knowing that your child is taking |
| at their school and that their teachers and | | | | Tae Kwon Do or Karate is enough to take them |
| administrators would want to know if there is a | | | | off the list of potential targets from bullies. |
| student who is bullying others. | | | | 8. Keep your kids from becoming a bully - Talk |
| 3. Teach them to defend others - Teach your | | | | frequently to your children about the importance |
| children to notice when other kids being bullied and | | | | of the golden rule: treating others as they would |
| to stand up for them. Often times, all it takes to | | | | like to be treated. If you find that your child |
| stop a bully is to have other children get involved | | | | appears to be getting a sense of satisfaction by |
| and show that they will stand with the 'victim'. | | | | putting others down, register your disappointment, |
| 4. Teach them to fight back if attacked physically | | | | using punishment if it continues. If necessary, if |
| - Teach your children that it is always right for | | | | you cannot correct the behavior, consider seeking |
| them to defend themselves. If another child | | | | the help of a counselor. |
| attacks them physically, they should defend | | | | If you use these strategies, you will very likely |
| themselves by fighting back. If they have friends | | | | see your child become less and less of a target |
| around, their friends should get involved to help | | | | for bullies which can reduce the stress level for |
| defend them. Their physical response should be | | | | everyone and ultimately protect your children. |
| proportional to what was done to them. Once the | | | | |