Dealing with a Bully

More and more children are being teased and traumatized by bullies and, as a result, are struggling with depression and other emotional/behavioral issues. Get these strategies to protect your kids from bullies and help your kids successfully resolve schoolyard conflicts.

Involve the bully's parents. Bullies usually have parents, and in many cases their parents do not know that their child is the class bully. It is generally a good strategy to get them involved. They will probably be defensive at first, so do not lose your cool and make the matter worse.

Get the facts. It is important that you get as much information as you can from your child before you take action. Consider your child's behavior, conflict-management skills, and temperament. The solution to this problem may entail some changes for both your child and the bully.

Role-play responses. Allow your child to role-play how he/she could respond to the bully. Walking through the situation with your child will increase his/her confidence and help him/her learn different responses.

Get additional help if needed. Like your child, you are not alone in handling this situation. Teachers, school administrators, counselors and pastors can be great resources.

Research shows that kids with involved fathers are less likely to be affected by bullying. By getting involved and helping your child deal with these issues early, you can help your kids have healthy social interactions and prevent bullying.