If you’ve been following my posts this week, you will know that bullying doesn’t just affect children at school. You can experience bullying as an adult in the workplace, online or in social situations. However, preventing people from bullying needs to start early. Only by teaching and showing children by our own actions, how to treat other people with respect and kindness can we hope to stop them bullying in the first place. Here are my top tips:
Ways To Prevent Bullying
- Start early. Parent/child talks are essential. Teach kids to respect others before they start school.
- Small acts of teasing should be stopped in their tracks. Don’t be afraid to correct this kind of behaviour due to a child’s young age, this is exactly when to stop it.
- Stop bullying when you see it. Adults who remain silent when bullying occurs are encouraging it and making it worse.
- Recognise the signs of depression, make sure to reach out and get them help when you see the signs.
- Don’t brush bullying off as a rite of passage and tell people to just deal with it.
- Educate children about what bullying is and make it clear that it is not a nice thing to do to someone.
- Help them interact with people they have common interests.
- Encourage them to find hobbies to keep them occupied.
If you are being bullied or think someone you care for might be, and are experiencing any of these effects of bullying, the ABA website has some useful advice and support, follow the link below.
By Nicola Martin
