Tip: To re-enforce this transparency, have regular follow-up talks as well.
When your child gets home from school, ask questions like, “So, did you see anyone being bullied today?” Talk specifically about bullying. By bringing up the distinct topic of bullying, this emphasizes that bullying, specifically, is important and needs to be talked about. It also helps to normalize bullying as a talking point.
You can then follow up with, “And what do we do if anyone is being bullied?”
“We tell someone to get help.”
These statements are by intention general, and for two main reasons:
- First, they recognize that no one deserves to be bullied, which indirectly tells your child that they shouldn’t be bullied either.
- Second, it shows concern for bullying without casting a nagging shadow by focusing on just your child. By not nagging, it helps to avoid adding extra pressure, especially for a child who may already be under pressure if they are being bullied.
Overall, once kids acknowledge the reality and problem of bullying, it legitimizes the very important question, “So, what can we do about it?”
What to do if your child is being bullied
It is important for you and your child to know what steps to take when bullying occurs, and if you can’t figure it out yourself, remember that you never have to. Empower yourself and your child by connecting to the bigger community at your child’s school. It is in everyone’s interest to create a safe place for children, so don’t feel you have to tackle bullying alone.
Here are a few options:
1. Do your own research on bullying, as there are many resources online. To start …
2. Arrange a meeting to have you and your child talk with school counselors, who will have valuable information about bullying
3. Advocate for school events and initiatives, like fundraising events for antibullying, or inviting speakers to come to your school, to inspire and educate parents and children on how to stop bullying.
These suggestions all lend themselves to creating more open discussions. And while there is great value in talking about bullying through words, words are not the only way.
Day of Pink & Anti-Bullying Days
A group of teenagers, from a small town in Nova Scotia, sent a big message to the world by organizing an anti-bullying protest at their school. For years they have been teaching us that we can talk about bullying not just through words, but also actions through International Day of Pink.
“David Shepherd, Travis Price and their teenage friends organized a high-school protest to wear pink in sympathy with a … boy who was being bullied [for wearing a pink shirt]…[They] took a stand against bullying when they protested against the harassment of a new … student by distributing pink T-shirts to all the boys in their school. As they stood in the foyer handing out the shirts, the bullied boy walked in. His face spoke volumes. ‘It looked like a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders,’ Mr. Price recalled. The bullies were never heard from again.” — Globe & Mail [3]
These teenagers showed us that stopping bullying is important not just to people who are being bullied, but to those at our schools, in our towns and everyone around the globe. It is actions like these that inspire International Day of Pink and build a sense of community. Actions like these help victims of bullying realize they don’t have to suffer in silence and that asking for help strengthens us—it does not weaken us.
Of course, supporting Pink Shirt Day is one action to stand up against bullying, but there are many!
Mark your calendar.
- Day of Pink occurs during the second of April.
- In the United States, the second Wednesday of October is Anti-Bullying Day.
- In Canada, the last Wednesday in February is Anti-Bullying Day.
Get informed about your school’s anti-bullying plan. Reach out to your child’s school and find out what their bullying prevention plan is. Find out what the expectations are, and what options children who encounter bullying have–both for themselves and others.
Find out when local anti-bullying and events are. Many schools and community centers have initiatives and events that relate to bullying. For example, there could be fun runs, 5ks, talks or information sessions.
Help support the causes, if you are able. There are also opportunities to create awareness through fundraising, such as for Pink Shirt Day (in Canada here or in America here). [4].
Whatever actions you take, remember to include your child wherever possible, to build a sense of ownership as you strive to develop a strong sense of awareness and community.
Knowledge is key to handling and ending bullying
Overall, it is important for parents and children to become educated about bullying. Identifying what bullying is and understanding how to deal with it, will allow you and your child to have more open and honest discussions about it. Creating a safe place where children can discuss bullying is critical.
In addition to words, actions are important as well. The right actions can help to create a sense of community and show everyone that their safety is important, and that there is no need to suffer in silence.
Whatever steps you take to combat bullying, remember not to do it alone. Reach out to your child’s school or other anti-bullying organizations that can provide valuable resources. We are all empowered when we talk about bullying, through both words and actions, creating a safer place where we all want to live.