Adults: Help Children to Make a Difference in Bullying
Explain their Role
Explain to children how crucial they are to stopping bullying. Bullying requires an audience, and without an audience, the bully has no power. Remind children the next time they see bullying to walk away.
Encourage Safe Measures
Tell children to keep their own safety in mind when dealing with bullying, and to leave any potentially dangerous bullying scene to find a grown-up to help.
Help Define Bullying
Remind children that bullying is not just about hitting or pushing and that emotional bullying, such as calling names or leaving other kids out, is just as harmful and wrong.
Advocate for Potential Victims
In order to assist potential victims, encourage children to get to know withdrawn children who find it difficult to make friends, and to get their friends to do the same.
Help Spread the Word
Challenge children to talk to other children about the fact that bullying isn’t cool. It won’t be long before the word catches on.
Encourage Communication
Ask children to tell you or another trusted adult when they see bullying of any kind. Assure them you’re there to listen and help and that you won’t get upset.
Praise Communication
Congratulate them when they do talk to you about bullying. Encourage them to tell their friends to talk to the adults they trust about bullying too.
Value Differences
Work with children to develop a code of mutual respect. Remind them that everyone deserves to be treated with kindness, regardless of race, size, skin colour, hobbies, religion, clothing, beliefs or anything at all.
Change Takes Time
Remind children that ending bullying won’t happen overnight. Try relaying bullying episodes from your childhood so they understand that change takes time.
Help is There
Remember whether you’re the parent of a bystander, victim, or bully, someone is there to listen if you have parenting concerns. Call the Parent Help Line at 1-888-603-9100.