Strategies for coping - children

Strategies for helping children affected by school bullying include:

• increasing supervision of children when with other children
• letting children know what bullying is, why it is unacceptable, and how to spot it
• making clear rules and consistent consequences for all children
• praising children when they play cooperatively with others
• teaching them that telling a trusted person about bullying is okay
• teaching children how to stand up for themselves
• helping children to improve their social skills.

Strategies for children affected by cyber-bullying include:

• talking with children about how cyber-bullying can happen, why it is not ok, and how it can affect the receiver
• encouraging them to talk if they feel uncomfortable, bullied or intimidated
• teaching them strategies for blocking, deleting, reporting bullies
• trying not to rely on blocking access to online environments as the only way to protect children.

Strategies for dealing with children who are bullying others can include:

• increasing supervision when the child is with other children
• explaining what bullying is and why it is not acceptable
• talking with the child about the impact of bullying on others. Try to get them to understand what it is like for the person being bullied, for example by asking how they would feel if they were being bullied
• talking with the child about what they think might help them to stop bullying
• showing them how to join in with other children in a friendly way (for example: first observe a game and the other children, look for a natural break in the game for joining in, choose a person with a friendly face and ask them if you can join)
• making clear rules and consequences, and being consistent in dealing with inappropriate behaviour;
• praising children when they play cooperatively with others
• enrolling the child in a group program that helps children learn to manage their behaviour.