Beatbullying’s Top Tips For Parents

Beatbullying understands that the back-to-school period can be very worrying for parents, with bullying considered the number one concern for their children. Concerned mums, dads and guardians should check out our in depth advice on how to deal with bullying, and follow the tips below:

If you suspect your son or daughter is being bullied

1. Be open
Bullying is a difficult subject to broach with your children, but being open, honest and approachable will make it easier for them to discuss their feelings.

2. Don’t fly off the handle
You might feel angry if you discover your child is being bullied. But for some young people bullying brings on feelings of guilt and shame, so adding your own anger to the mix won’t help.

3. Praise them for opening up
It’s not easy for children to admit out loud that they are being bullied, so praise them for taking that important step. Now they have spoken to you, you can support them in getting the help they need.

4. Reassure them
Despite so many children going through it, there is still a huge stigma associated with bullying and sometimes youngsters feel as though it’s their own fault. Reassure your child that they are not alone – lots of celebs have been bullied, including Beatbullying ambassador and boxer Joe Calzaghe. They may also worry that the bullying may get worse if the bully finds out they have told someone, so reassure them that you want to help them and make things better.

5. Get help from others
Encourage your child to report the problem to the most appropriate teacher at their school. You could also turn to Beatbullying for advice, and children, who often find it easier to talk about their problems to other youngsters, can go online for support at cybermentors.org.uk

Signs that your child might be being bullied

1. Physical changes
Some children may have actual injuries, even damaged clothes – which can’t be explained convincingly – and this could be a sign of bullying at school. Children may also report feeling sick in the mornings before school, due the stress of the bullying that may be occurring.

2. Emotional signs
A change in personality could signal that your child is being bullied. Of course, all of us – especially teenagers – can have changeable moods, but use your intuition to identify what’s out of the ordinary for them. They could become anxious, get angry easily or start isolating themselves from their friends.

3. Psychological Signs
Some children who are being bullied withdraw into themselves, or lash out, or even do both. If they are no longer taking an interest in group activities or try to avoid school for no obvious reason then try to find out if they are being bullied