Is your child getting bullied at school? If your child comes home crying from school, complaining that his classmates pick on him, don't turn a deaf ear.
If bullying is not checked, it will only increase in intensity. Here's what you can do to help your child get back on his feet, and reduce the incidents of bullying.
Class Teacher
If your child comes home complaining that his classmates are picking on him, speak to his class teacher. The class teacher should then keep her eyes open, and if she observes anyone picking on him, she should firmly tell the students that such behaviour should not be repeated. She could also tell the child being bullied, in front of the bullies, to come to her if such a situation is repeated. However, she should also not let on that she has received a complaint, because it may worsen the situation.
Often, children that are bullied are not very prominent as students. So, another thing the teacher can do is to pay your child a little more attention in class. If your child lifts up his hand to answer a question, the teacher should call on him. She could give him minor responsibilities or even chores like running to the neighbouring class to get some chalk, to erase the blackboard etc. Obviously your child should not be viewed as a teacher's pet either, but just enough attention should be given to him so the other students know that your child has emerged from the background.
Parents of the bullies
If your child is being beaten up, speak to the parents of the bully. If the parents deny that their child is a bully, request the parents to at least have a word with their child in this regard.
Confrontation
Speak to the bully yourself. Once the bully gets to interact with you as the parent of the child, he will think twice before messing with your child. Don't be very harsh on the child, just call him over and speak to him. Ask him why he hit your child. Also, consider praising the bully's sense of fairness, and tell him that now that the matter is resolved, you are confident he and your child will not fight again.
Elder Sibling
It helps if your child has an elder sibling or elder cousin in the same school. Ask the sibling to look out for their younger brother or cousin.
Speak to your friends who may have an elder child in the same school. Speak to the elder child and enlist his help in dealing with the situation. Bullies are essentially cowards and pick on those children who have no one to turn to for help. And any bully would be afraid of his seniors in school. So if a senior student goes up to the bully and sounds him off for being mean to your child and warning him against repeating such behaviour, in all likelihood the bully will never come close to your child again.
Bullying at School - Part II
