▲

First off, listening is one of the most important things someone can do for a child who is being bullied. This means listening without becoming angry, which may make the child not want to speak.

▲

The instinct is to go directly to the source and stop the hurt immediately, but it's best to cool off for a period and have a third party as a mediator to address the bully.

▲

Retaliation is not the way forward when attempting to help a child who is being bullied, either against their parents or against the bully themselves.

▲

Every parent will have experienced some form of bullying in their lives at some point, even if they weren’t the victim. This experience will be what they can draw from in helping their child deal with bullying.

▲

Bullies gravitate to bullying kids who either are quiet or who they think they will get a specific reaction from, like an emotional one. They will usually choose a child who will take the insults (or any other form of abuse) to heart. This makes them feel powerful.

▲

Teachers, counselors, and principals have immense power in these kinds of situations. Generally, if children are forced to sit down and promise that they will stop their behavior, they will listen.

▲

It probably goes without saying for most people, but never blame a child who is being bullied. No matter the case or situation, the child who is being bullied is a victim.

▲

However unfortunate a child bully’s background may be, which is usually why they take it out on another child, they are still children, and they can be taught a lesson.

▲

Love and support are essential things that can be shown to a child who is being bullied. The child needs to know that they are loved and that they are worthy.

▲

By and large, it is the school’s responsibility to stop this kind of behavior occurring between students. Find someone in the body of staff who is empathetic to your child’s situation who is willing to do something to help.

▲

When a child ignores insults or the bully’s presence, the bully will grow tired. However, this can take too long and can be excruciating for the victim.

▲

As hearing about a child being bullied is a very stressful thing, it’s essential to speak about it with other people too. Talking to a family member or friend can help share the emotional load, and other people may have some advice, too.

▲

Helping them find these kinds of activities can be as simple as driving them to practice or bringing them to meetings. They need something that makes them feel powerful, making them feel the opposite of how bullies make them feel.

▲

The child must understand what is happening and have a name for it: “bullying.” Having a word for it will help the child process what is happening.

▲

Patience with a child who has been bullied is invaluable. A child who has been bullied may take a long time to get over it. It’s not a quick fix–they need to understand what has happened to them and gain a sense of control again over time.

▲

Children who are being bullied will often avoid the bathroom or other unsupervised areas in school. If the bully is present somewhere unsupervised, the victim will not want to be there.

▲

If a child is in the position where they will not say certain things to a parent, they may feel more comfortable speaking about it to a school counselor.

▲

You have to take the side of the bullied child. It has to be reaffirmed that they haven’t done something wrong and that they don't deserve what is happening to them.

▲

As bullying can knock someone’s self-esteem, it can be constructive for a child to find something that they’re good at during and after it. It helps to reinforce their self-esteem.

▲

Losing friends that they previously had is a sign that a child is being bullied. There are various reasons for this. One of the most common reasons is that their friends will try to stay out of the line of fire by not associating with them.

▲

A range of feelings may cause a child who is being bullied to not tell a parent or adult about what is happening, so parents must understand the signs.

▲

There are many other signs, too, like not eating or sleeping well, seeming anxious, acting differently, or being moody or easily upset. It will depend on the individual child.

▲

Before anyone can help in a situation, they must first know what the problem is. This is why trying to find a reason why it may be the child’s fault will only make things worse because they will internalize it and stop speaking.

▲

Because bullying takes a toll on self-esteem and emotional well-being, a bullied child may want to spend more time alone and not want to do activities they usually enjoy.

▲

Speaking about themselves negatively is a sign that someone has been bullied. A victim can start to believe the abuse that has been thrown at them.

▲

Bullying is a horrible and damaging experience for anyone to go through, especially for children. However, it is not the end of the line. With the right kind of support, guidance, love, and affection, children can overcome the emotional harm that it causes and develop the tools to deal with bullies in their adolescent and adult lives.

Sources: (Parents) (KidsHealth) (Empowering Parents)

▲

Because a lot of bullying happens online or through technology, it is a sign that a child is being bullied if they become upset after looking at their device or computer.

▲

It is essential to be a role model for your child to deal with this kind of behavior by not personalizing the bullying yourself. This can be hard for parents who have been bullied themselves in the past.

▲

Bullying is one of the hardest things that a child can go through. There are many different forms of bullying, which can leave people emotionally scarred, physically hurt, and in extreme cases even worse. It is excruciating for parents because it can feel out of their control. However, you are not powerless when your child is being bullied. There are many ways you can help stop it and help your child overcome it.

To learn how to help kids who are being bullied, click through this gallery.