October is National Bully Prevention Month. Throughout Tangipahoa Parish, Elementary and Junior High Counselors are providing students with lessons and resources, as well as, providing parents with the tools they need to combat the problems associated with bullying. Below is some information and tips for parents to be able to have open discussions about bullying as a family. Children learn best when parents are their primary teachers and there are ongoing discussions on important topics. Parents are their child’s biggest role model, and they will take your lead.

How to stop school bullying: What every parent needs to know…

  • Bullying is not just one occurrence, but a repeated event that is intentional and includes an unequal distribution of power. Bullying is all about power.
  • Boys and girls bully differently. Boys tend to use physical aggression. Girls tend to bully other girls through indirect routes, such as gossiping about the targeted child. Girls are also more likely to be the target of sexual bullying, which may include rumors about her sexual activities.
  • There are four types of bullying:

Physical– hitting, kicking, pushing, spitting, and damaging property.

Verbal – name calling, teasing, threats, and misuse of authority.

Social – spreading rumors, exclusion from a group, positioning someone to take

the blame for something they did not do.

Cyber bullying – texting, email, online games, instant messages, videos or photographs and chat rooms.

Ways for parents to stop or prevent bullying:

  • Discuss bullying with your child before there is a problem and brainstorm ways they could deal with specific situations. Teach children how to manage problems on their own. This will not only provide them with an important skill-set if faced with problem situations, but will also allow the development of self-confidence.
  • Be involved. Play an active role in your child’s lives. Talk to them every day, know their friends, and offer support by listening to them.
  • Contact teachers and administration (phone and email) to what is happening and work together to create a plan to address the problem.
  • Do not encourage your child to be aggressive or fight back. Instead, encourage your child to react in a way the bully will not expect, such as humor, walking away, finding a teacher or “safe” person to stand by, verbally telling bully to stop, etc…. Remind your child that teasing, fighting, or saying something hurtful in return will only make the situation worse.
  • Encourage your child to express how they feel, showing him that you understand, and talking through some strategies to deal with the problem.
  • Encourage activities and friendships that develop your child’s strengths. Get them involved with organized activities – like music or sports – that they enjoy and where they can thrive.
  • If you are concerned about ongoing issues or you notice sudden changes that concern you (like your child doesn’t want to go to school, always has something physically wrong such as a stomach ache or headache, seems sad, or seems to have a hard time separating from you or family members), talk with a school counselor for additional support. School counselors can help you determine what might be going on with your child, and offer appropriate resources and follow-up that will better enable your child for school success!