Bullying in schools

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Four non-negotiable tips to help your kids tackle bullying head-on

Gregory offers the following tips that go beyond the anti-bully rhetoric and provide concrete ways parents can help their kids prevent bullying and stop bullies in their tracks.

1. Tell your kids to stand and be heard

• Bullies believe they are invisible or invincible -- bring the bullying activity into the open.
• Call it what it is: bullying.
• Garner community support by asking to speak at a PTA or school board meeting.
• Tell your own parents and ask for help -- you don't have to handle this alone.
• Talk with your child's guidance counselor -- the more eyes watching, the better.
• Ask the community to acknowledge that bullying is a form of hate crime.

2. Help kids develop self-awareness

Parents can encourage kids to use these strategies:

• Recognize your worth, your potential and your magnificent humanity.
• Watch which bullying comments stick to you; ask yourself why you believe what they are saying.
• Ask people whose opinion you value to share what they see in you.
• Seek positive reinforcement -- standing up to the bully is its own form of positive reinforcement.

3. Build community awareness about bullying

• Identify the specific community and family behaviors that support bullying.
• Bring in speakers to educate the community on the causes of and remedies for bullying.
• Set the expectation that community members be aware of bullying and act when they see it.
• Create Bully-Free Zones (integrated with systems like Neighborhood Watch).
• Certify neighborhood and/or organizational Bully-Free Living advisors.

4. Create a bully-free support system at school

• Start or join a bully-free support group at school.
• Ask teachers or counselors to act as champions for Bully-Free Living.

More on bullying

• How onlookers contribute to bullying
• When your child is the bully
• How to deal with mean girl cliques
• How to protect kids from cyber-bullying