Bullying

Bullying
If your child is verbally bullied, teach him or her how to respond effectively. Discuss the following strategies with your child. Practicing the strategies with you or another trusted adult will help develop the confidence to end the bullying. If the bullying is happening at school, speak to your child's classroom teacher or advisor so they can help. **Ignore the Bully ** Teach your child to ignore the bully. Your child should not make faces, cry, sigh, or make any gesture signaling distress. Often, when bullies don't get a reaction, they stop. **Walk Away ** Your child can choose to walk away in a confident manner - head up, back straight and with a normal walking pace. Your child needs to be aware of being followed and walk to a safer place, usually near adults. If the bully says mean things, continue to ignore and walk away. **Tell the Bully to "Stop" ** Keeping a distance of 1½ to 2 arm lengths, have your child say, "Stop!" or, "Cut it out!" Teach your child to: 1. Make eye contact. 2. Express confident body language; head up, back straight, arms down in front or on the side of the body and feet at shoulder width. No fidgeting! 3. Speak clearly - a steady tone, not too loud, too soft, whiny or sarcastic. 4. Make short statements such as, "Stop!" or "Cut it out!" 5. <span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Then turn and walk away. **<span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Go to a Trusted Adult ** <span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">When other strategies fail, or there is immediate danger, tell your child to go to a trusted adult. This is not tattling; this is requesting assistance with a serious problem.
 * Our school has been discussing ways to prevent and how to deal with bullying. We are teaching students how to respond effectively; below you will find some strategies you can discuss with your child. If you have any questions or concerns about bullying in our class please contact me. **<span style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Standing Up to a Bully **