Nearly one-third of teens worldwide experience bullying, according to a study issued by UNESCO Institute for Statistics. In countries where children reported the highest incidences of bullying, 65% of girls and 62% of boys reported being bullied. Parents can take the following measures to address bullying.
- Address aggressive behavior. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stopbullying.gov website notes that bullying behavior in young children is common. However, failing to address the behavior often results in children having problems with peers. Thus, parents should strive to encourage cooperative behaviors like helping, sharing, and problem-solving.
- Engage with your children. Studies show that children are more likely to bully other kids if their parents spend little time with them, or do not regularly supervise their activities. Students are less likely to bully other children if their parents warmly engage with them.
- Learn about bullying. Parents who learn about bullying are in a better position to prevent it. StopBullying.gov indicates that children of all ages and racial and ethnic backgrounds are vulnerable to bullying. Parents who recognize this can better identify signs their child is being bullied or bullying other students.
- Teach by example. Children reflect the attitudes and behaviors of their parents. If parents exhibit disrespectful behaviors toward one another or other people, children are more likely to follow suit. A 2001 study published in the Journal of Clinical Child Psychology found that abused children are more likely to bully others and be bullied by others than children who are not abused. Maintaining a home environment in which every individual, including children, is respected can reduce the likelihood that kids will bully or be bullied by others. Learn more at www.StopBullying.gov.
