How to Identify and Prevent Bullying

---

Bullying is certainly nothing new on the playground, but in recent years, we have become more aware of its prevalence and negative side effects. Most children will face bullying at some point, usually at school. With active listening, effective role modeling, and thoughtful participation, parents can proactively protect their children from bullies.

Common Signs of Bullying at School

Although each child will react to bullying differently, experts agree that certain trends in behavior tend to accompany bullying. Children who face bullying at school may exhibit the following behaviors:

• Often "losing" lunch money or complaining of hunger after school
• Abrupt changes in temperament; sudden moodiness or anger
• Unexplained minor injuries like cuts and bruises
• Uncharacteristic aggression toward siblings or close friends
• Sudden avoidance of contact with peers, especially in less structured or unsupervised environments
• Sleeplessness or loss in appetite

Not every child who exhibits these symptoms does so as a reaction to bullying. Therefore support and encouragement are vital in helping a parent determine whether bullying is the problem. Active listening is an excellent strategy for identifying the cause of behavioral changes.

How to Stop Bullying

The key to effective prevention of bullying is coordinated, thoughtful effort from all care providers. Parents can enlist the help of teachers, guidance counselors, other caregivers, and even children themselves, to end bullying.

• Parents can teach children what bullying is, and explain why it is important to report bullying to a trusted adult. Role playing and modeling are effective methods for helping children feel more confident about talking to adults about bullying.
• Meeting with other caretakers, especially teachers, is an important step. If alerted, they can be more vigilant about the child's interactions with peers, to ensure there are fewer opportunities for bullying.
• Parents should also enlist caregivers in an action plan. This will reinforce that the parent sees bullying as an unacceptable behavior, and that everyone is responsible for stopping it.
• Children can learn to respond constructively to bullying, by ignoring it or discouraging other kids from participating.
• Situations where bullying can easily occur should be minimized. These situations include bus rides, the hours before or after school, and lunch, when students tend to be less supervised. Most administrators will participate in removing the bully, rather than the victim, from these situations.

Although bullying is still a prevalent occurrence, parents can step in and prevent their children from being bullied. By educating their children and enlisting other caregivers, parents can regain control for their children and overcome the obstacles of bullying.