5 Steps to Stop Bullying

What To Do If Your Child Is Being Bullied

Being able to “stay calm and carry on” when you find out your child is being bullied is nearly impossible. Author and expert, Maureen Healy, shares 5 steps to stop bullying in case you ever discover your child is being bullied. Using these suggestions has the power to bring you greater ease in facing this difficult situation.

Keep Your Kids Safe

Understanding the bullying events and removing your child from any situation where they may be unsafe is important. Sometimes, I find parents get “caught up” in making the bully pay when the first priority is to keep your child safe!

Speak Up

Speaking up for your child is the only way to make a difference. You need to be clear, strong and positive that whatever bullying behavior happened – it must stop. Tell the other parent, teacher, school administrators and principal to ensure this is changed. If nothing happens, you need to keep speaking up even if that includes going to law enforcement.

Empower Your Kids

Teach your kids how to stand up for themselves. This includes role-playing, giving them “things to say” in the event a bullying event happens or the strength to walk (or run) away if they are ever in danger. Kids need to become courageous, strong inside and able to stand up to perceived threats.

Foster Open Communication

Create a relationship with your kids so that they’ll speak to you even when they are feeling icky or embarrassed about things like being bullied. If you don’t know what’s happening, you can’t speak up for your child. Explain the difference between tattling (giving someone up so they get in trouble) and telling (there is a potential for harm and someone needs to step in).

Build Inner Confidence

Confidence isn’t built in one day and developing that deeper sense of strength is what I dedicated my new book Growing Happy Kids, to—because it is so important to cultivate in kids the belief that they can overcome obstacles, and persevere no matter what is happening in the outside world. Learn more about how you can help stop bullying. Check out the new movie Bully.

- See more at: http://www.beliefnet.com/Love-Family/Parenting/Galleries/5-Steps-to-Stop-Bullying.aspx?b=1&nlsource=10&p=6&source=NEWSLETTER&utm_campaign=Inspiration&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=NL&utm_term=hotmail.com#sthash.UWRyXLVk.dpuf

Maureen Healy is the founder of Growing Happy Kids, and author of the book by the same name. She also has a thriving practice working directly with parents and children. Check out Maureen's Happiness blog on Beliefnet.