Battling Bullying

Bullying is unwanted aggressive behavior — observed or perceived imbalance of power — and it can be direct or indirect. We know that bullying happens in many places, including at schools and online. Research shows that bullying can lead to or worsen feelings of anxiety, isolation, despair and depression.

What To Do About Bullying

If your child is dealing with bullying, here are some steps you can take to deal with the situation.

Have intentional conversations with your

child. Initiate casual and curious talks when driving them around, before or after homework, over dinner, or when doing something fun with them. Ask open-ended questions. Showing that you trust them and are willing to listen can mean a lot to your child. Scan the QR Code to schedule an appointment with Crosswinds Counseling. Crosswinds has a team of licensed and master’s level therapists who work with children, teens and adults on various issues. Our counselors are here to help!

Initiate the conversation. It’s

important to start the conversation because our children who experienced or witnessed bullying may not know how to bring it up, even if they want to talk about it. Bring it up gently, and let them know they’re not in trouble, and there’s nothing to be ashamed about. Stay calm. Ask about their experience, be supportive, and determine if you need to talk to the school about it.

We, as parents, can help prevent bullying by encouraging our children to continue to do what they love, modeling love and kindness, and seeking help if they are being bullied or know others who are being bullied.

If you notice major changes in your child’s life, including lower academic performance, differences in eating or sleeping patterns, isolation, health complaints, substance use, or loss of interest in things they used to enjoy, seek help from a mental health professional.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY