As a parent, you may have an understanding of bullying either directly or indirectly from your childhood. Bullying is defined as intentional and repeated aggression toward another person that causes injury or discomfort. Bullying exists in many forms, including physical aggression, name-calling and spreading rumors.
Differences in bullying exist across genders. Studies show girls often engage in more relational bullying, like spreading rumors to harm a peer’s reputation, while boys tend to engage in more aggressive bullying, such as threatening or hitting peers.
[Read: Helping Kids Navigate a Virtual World Where Cyberbullying Is Common.]
How Bullying Effects Children’s Emotions
According to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 70 percent of youth report witnessing bullying at school. This is a serious concern given the impact of bullying. Decades of research have identified the psychological effects of bullying on children. For example, children who engage in bullying and those who are also victims of bullying tend to report higher levels of depression and anxiety.
In a study published last year in the Journal of Black Psychology, researchers examined the emotional consequences of bullying among African-American children. The findings indicated that both those who bullied others and victims of bullying reported higher levels of depressed mood and anxiety symptoms. Additionally, the study found that African-American children who reported engaging in bullying often reported having more difficulties managing their own emotions. This study highlights decades of research on bullying with results replicating studies on children from all ethnic groups.
[Read: 6 Strategies for Helping a Teen Who’s Being Bullied About His or Her Weight.]
What Parents Can Do to Prevent Bullying
There are prevention programs and school-based interventions to address bullying behaviors and the emotional consequences. However, parents can play an important role in bullying prevention. Here are some suggestions from the American Psychological Association for helping children who engage in bullying and those who are victims of it:
Tips for parents of kids who bully:
Stop bullying before it starts. Talk with your children about bullying. It’s important to identify what behaviors can be involved. Also, remind your child that bullying could lead to other negative consequences like being kicked out of school.
Make your home a “bully-free” zone. Don’t allow bullying to happen in your home. Children learn acceptable behaviors from their parents. It’s important to model “good” examples of negotiating social relationships. Exposing children to overly strict home environments may put them at a higher risk of engaging in bullying.
Look for emotional or behavior changes. Children who bully others may be dealing with low self-esteem, academic issues or being a victim of bullying. If you notice major changes in your child, take extra precautions to monitor their behavior. This may include talking with a teacher to ask how things going for the child in school.
Tips for parents of kids who are being bullied:
Watch for signs your child is being bullied. Some kids may not report bullying to parents or other adults. Potential signs of bullying may include hesitation about going to school, increased or decreased appetite, nightmares, general worrying or sadness. If you recognize signs of bullying, avoid telling your child to “suck it up.” Let them know you’re there to support them and, if appropriate, seek professional help.
Teach your child how to handle being bullied. Discuss ways to cope with bullying, since adults and teachers are not always present to prevent children from being bullied. At home, model ways to ignore bullying with your child and teach them how to be more assertive. It’s also important to help your child identify teachers and friends who can help them.
[See: 10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids’ Health.]
Appropriately monitor social media and computer use. Become educated and educate your child about cyberbullying. Teach your child to ignore threatening messages and to not share threatening emails with others. Most children have access to cellphones or other electronic devices, so it’s important to discuss limiting the use of technology and the consequences if used inappropriately. If you notice bullying, be sure to report threats to the school and, when appropriate, to the police.
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How Parents Can Help Prevent Bullying originally appeared on usnews.com
