Parenting Guide

Help your child stand up to bullying

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Sep 14, 2017

Many people think that bullying is a common thing in school and it’s a part of growing up. Well, it’s not!

Bullying can have a long-term psychological impact on both the victims and bullies. Based on the findings published in JAMA Psychiatry, children who acted as bullies and were bullied face higher risk for anxiety, depression and panic disorder. In Malaysia, 84% of youth aged eight to 17 have been bullied. Only 25% of the victims would tell their teachers or parents about it.

Recently, a video has been making its rounds on social media platforms, covering the topic of bullying. Viewers have been responding positively to it, praising its messages and method of acknowledging the issue.

Here at Schooladvisor.my, we have put together a list of other things that may come in handy to you should you feel the need to help your child in such a situation.

1. Talk to your child more often. Keep a healthy relationship between the two of you going.

2. Keep their spirits up by being more positive. Tone down on the negative when you're around them and naturally, get rid of negativity altogether.

3. Assure that the school you send them to have bullying policies and anti-bullying programmes.

4. Advise them not to respond to bullying by fighting or bullying back.

5. Suggest they use the buddy system to make sure they have someone with them so that they're not alone.

6. Teach them these three things: act brave, walk away, and ignore.

7. Encourage your child to tell someone if they're being bullied. Let them know that they need not be afraid.