PARENTS & CHILDREN - SAY NO TO BULLYING, STOP IT IN THE BEGINNING.

                             

Dear Parent, School Teachers, Principles and Leaders of Society -  
  

We are not left untouched by recurrent media reports on bullying in schools, Society, Nabour. 

The glaring news of children turning either into juvenile criminals or victims of duels, harassment, even grave crimes like murders leave us skeptical about our children’s safety. 

It must be relieving for you to know that the school maintains zero tolerance policy against bullying of any sort. Yet it is imperative to be aware of the signs and solutions to this lurking hazard. 

 Any hurting behavior or communication repeatedly done on purpose to be little a fellow is bullying.

 As parents we must ensure that our child must not be on   mindful will go a long way in fortifying mentally and emotionally healthier young ones. 

 SIGNS OF A BULLY:

         Refuses to include certain kids in play or study.

         Persists in certain unpleasant behavior

• Desirous of being popular
• Shows disrespect for children who are "different" 
• Frequently teases or taunts other children
• Constantly plays extremely aggressive video games
• Hurts animals or weaker fellows

UNDERSTANDING WHY CHILDREN BULLY

•  Insecurity: Children bully because they feel insecure. Picking on someone who is emotionally or physically weaker makes them feel more important, popular, or in control.
• Insensitivity: If children are not sensitized to accept others who are different in size, looks or religion, they do not realize that their behavior is hurting.
• Observation of negative behavior: Kids who are exposed to aggressive interactions in the family or surroundings often learn to treat others the same way.
• Lack emotional intelligence: In some cases, kids bully because they have trouble managing strong emotions like anger, frustration, jealousy or insecurity.

 HOW TO SAVE YOUR CHILD FROM BEING A BULLY

• Take bullying seriously:  Communicate that you don’t tolerate bullying either at home, playground or school. Establish rules about bullying and stick to them. Teach more appropriate (and nonviolent) ways to react, like walking away or drinking a glass of water.
• Teach kids to treat others with respect and kindness: Instill acceptance for  those who are different. They must know that it is wrong to ridicule differences (e.g. religion, appearance, special needs, gender & economic status). To inculcate kindness and compassion in children, we should regularly take them to the orphanages or old age homes or get them involved in some social work.
• Learn about child's social life: Be aware of your children’s behavior in school and social circle.  Speak to the kids about their friends and pressures they face.
• Encourage good behavior: Provide positive reinforcement. Take notice when children handle situations positively and praise them for it.
• Be a good role model: Be careful about how you talk and handle conflicts when kids are around.
• Environmental effects: If the family is going through a stressful life event that may have contributed to the child's behavior, reach out to the school authorities, school counselor or class teacher for help.
• Management of negative emotions: Teach kids about positive ways to manage negative emotions like anger, jealousy, frustration or insecurity. Enroll them into some sport or co-curricular activity of their choice. In severe cases seek help from professional counselors.

 SIGNS OF A VICTIM:

• Is reluctant or refuses to go to school
•  Clams up when we try to discuss school
• Does not want to participate in school activities or play with friends
• Seems hungrier than usual after school - it might be a sign that someone is stealing his / her lunch
• Shows signs of physical distress such as headaches, stomach-aches, or nausea
• Looks for escapes to avoid going to class
• Performance in school (grades, homework, attendance) suddenly declines
• Acts sullen, angry, and frequently wants to be left alone
• Uncharacteristically uses bad language
• Shows marked behavior change
• Has unexplained bruises or injuries

HOW TO HELP IF OUR CHILD IS BEING BULLIED

           Speak –Up: Help children understand the importance of reporting harassment. Tell them that it’s not their fault and they should report about the bullying.

          Imbibe skills: Teach kids how to be assertive without being aggressive in standing up for them. Work with them to strengthen confidence and find ways to deal with the problem.

          Seek Help: When something goes wrong at school, they should know that they can seek help from the class teacher and the school counselor.

 We need to work together to develop a bully free zone and to ensure the safety of our kids.