One in every five students in the US report being bullied and 41% of those students feel the bullying will happen again, PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center reports. Students who experience bullying are at higher risk of depression, anxiety, sleeping problems, low self esteem, poor academic performance, and dropping out of school. If your child's being bullied at school, it's important to act quickly to support your child and put a stop to it.
Talking with your child
Sit down with your child somewhere quiet, ask them straightforward, concise questions about what's going on, and listen to what they tell you. It's important to stay calm and set a good example of how to deal with problems. Let your child know it's natural to feel upset and emphasize it's not their fault they're being bullied (for example, "you're not the problem; your classmate may be upset about their homelife and think being nasty to others will make themselves feel better. But that's still no excuse"). Make it clear you agree the bullying is a problem and praise your child for opening up even though they found it hard. Tell your child you love and support them and will help make the bullying stop.
Contact the teacher
If your child is being bullied, get in touch with the school as soon as possible. Talk privately with their teacher, calmly explain the situation, and ask for their views. Together you can work out a plan to stop the bullying. All schools have anti-bullying policies and procedures, which you can ask to review. Be sure follow-up with the teacher. It's good to let your child know you're talking with their teacher to put a stop to the bullying. However, they may feel embarrassed or anxious it'll actually make the bullying worse. It's important to hear your child out and ease their concerns. For example, you could come into school at a specific time least likely to attract their classmate's attention. However, ultimately, you may still need to go ahead and contact the teacher even if your child objects.
If the bullying continues...
If the bullying fails to stop, there are a number of steps you can take. If the school's response has been inadequate, you can consider seeking legal advice. Filing a bullying lawsuit can help you win compensation for any damages-whether social, physical, or verbal. Schools are required to create a safe environment for students and pursuing a lawsuit can help obtain justice. Before it comes to that, however, you can arrange a meeting with the school principal and ask for the school's grievance procedure. You can also meet with the school board to discuss the bullying, as well as ask advice from the school's regional office. You may even want to switch to a different school with a better track record of dealing with bullying.
Bullying is devastating for any child to experience. It's crucial to give your child lots of love and support at home while working with the school to put a stop to the issue.
