STOP Bullying: It STARTS at Home

Give your child the tools to stop bullying and not become a victim. Bullying Stops with Me cites: "Every 7 seconds, a child is bullied on a playground....Bullying is intentional cruelty, harassment, and emotional, physical and sometimes sexual abuse. This behavior can set the tone for a lifetime of intentional cruelty or worse. And the consequences to the victim can seriously affect them for the rest of the their life." Bullying can occur at school, on the bus, in your neighborhood, in daycare or in sports. Later it can extend into cyberbulling. Let's stop it while children are young.

THREE TYPES OF BULLYING

•  VERBAL:
  • Teasing
  • Name-calling
  • Inappropriate sexual comments
  • Taunting
  • Threatening to cause harm
• SOCIAL:
  • Leaving someone out on purpose
  • Telling other children not to be friends with someone
  • Spreading rumors about someone
  • Embarrassing someone in public
• PHYSICAL:
  • Hitting/kicking/pinching
  • Spitting
  • Tripping/pushing
  • Taking or breaking someone’s things
  • Making mean or rude hand gestures

POSSIBLE WARNING SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD IS BEING BULLIED:

• Has lost interest in school work or suddenly begins to do poorly in school
• Appears sad, moody, teary, or depressed when he or she comes home
• Complains frequently of headaches, stomachaches, or other physical ailments
• Has trouble sleeping or has frequent bad dreams
• Experiences a loss of appetite
• Appears anxious and suffers from low self-esteem
• Comes home with torn, damaged, or missing pieces of clothing, books, or other belongings
• Has unexplained cuts, bruises, and scratches
• Has few, if any friends, with whom he or she wants to spends time
• Seems afraid of going to school, walking to and from school, riding the school bus, or taking part in organized activities with peers

HOW CAN PARENTS STOP BULLYING?

• Provide a Safe and Loving Home 
• Communicate: Everyday talk and listen to your child. Ask questions. Explain what bullying is and how no one should be bullied.
• Do Not Blame Your Child for being bullied.
• Boost Self-Esteem
• Watch for Changes in Behavior
• Help Your Child Make Friends in the neighborhood, at church, or through sports
• Help Your Child Develop Social Skills
• Seek the Help of a Counselor - Schools have counselors and communities have counseling services based on income
• Be Persistent that the School Do Its Part to stop the bullying. Do not storm into the principal's office but talk with your child's teacher first. Visit your school during recess and lunch time. Offer to volunteer in the classroom. Ask for the school counselor to visit the classroom. Do not allow your child to be counseled at the same time as the bullier. The school should contact the bully's parents, not you. Seek the help of the Principal or even Superintendent if the bullying persists.
• Be a Good Example: Control your own temper and speak respectfully of others regardless of their differences.
• Teach Your Child What NOT to Do such as pushing, teasing or excluding others. 
• Coach Your Child on What to Do if someone is being mean to them or to another: 

1. Tell the bully to stop.
2. Walk away.
3. Get an adult.

RESOURCES:   Bully Free Program - Facts about Bullying       Signs of Bullying: Education.com      Stop Bullying.Gov Stop Bullying Bitstrips - Comic Book to Download     How to Recognize if Your Child is Being Bullied      7 Ways to Improve Your Child’s Self-Esteem  

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