Concerning Kids – Tips against bullying
A girl bullies a classmate by pulling her hair and recording the act. Photo ANP, Roos Koole
Christian Life
"I allowed myself to be bullied because I was scared and didn't know how to defend myself. I was scared and didn't know how to defend myself. I was bullied until I prevented a new student from being bullied. By standing up for him, I learned to stand up for myself", actor Jackie Chan once said.
Bullying is behaviour when force, coercion, hurtful teasing or even threats are used to abuse and dominate others. Most kids face bullying at different ages.
I have many adult friends who are not capable of protecting themselves and cannot stand up for themselves. Children are even more vulnerable and helpless. How, then, can we help them?
Most parents believe that a good school, a good neighbourhood, and good teachers will prevent bullying. However, we cannot keep our kids safe if they are out in the world. So, what can we do?
Tips
The best way to protect the kids is to preventively teach kids how to react in case something happens. Education is a powerful tool against bullying. Teaching children about what bullying actually is and the importance of kindness and empathy can help prevent bullying behaviour. It would be great to teach the kids not to be passive bystanders but also to protect others. The intervention of bystanders rapidly decreases bullying.
With the rise of cyberbullying, digital awareness is also essential. Parents should monitor their children's online activities, educate them about online safety, and establish rules for internet use. Encourage children to report any online harassment and use privacy settings to protect their online presence.
Lastly, creating an environment where children feel safe to talk about their experiences is fundamental. Parents should ask open-ended questions about their day and be observant of any behavioural changes that can prompt a child to share their experiences.
Party
Aliana, one of the kids I work with, had a recent eye surgery. The surgery went well, but her eye remained red (because of broken capillaries) for a while. Yet, she had to go to school. Unfortunately, the girl heard many harsh comments about her eye.
Soon, we noticed that Aliana did not want to go to school because of the bullying. After another visit to the doctor, Aliana learned that she had to wear glasses for several months. She cried as she did not dare to go to school with glasses.
Therefore, her mother invited all friends who wore glasses over to their house and organised a party with them. Now, Aliana could see many people wearing glasses. The next day she went to the shop to choose the glasses she really liked.
Later we had conversations with her about why children bully each other, and we talked about how she should stand up for herself. We also asked her schoolteacher to be more attentive to kids and their conversations. The next day in school was a challenge for the little girl, but it went well, as she was ready for unpleasant conversations.
We cannot change society at once, but we can change ourselves and teach kids to be ready for such challenges.
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