Preparing for school life: how to teach children to effectively resist bullying

Bullying is one of the unpleasant features of today's school. It can occur on a physical, verbal, emotional, or psychological level.

If you suspect that your child may be vulnerable to bullying at school, this is the right time to empower your children to stand up to it. Read more SSPDaily publishes several ways to prevent bullying in your children.

First of all, tell your child about the dynamics of bullying. Research shows that it starts with verbal abuse. If the victim reacts emotionally to verbal aggression, it gives the bully a sense of power. So, it's important to discuss this issue with children so that they can successfully stand up to their bullies when the bully first tests them.

Experts also recommend teaching your child basic communication skills. Bullies often target children they perceive as socially awkward or problematic. If your child is struggling to develop social skills, make it a priority to teach them. It may be that your child may continue to hang around his bullies to gain social acceptance. This kind of people-pleasing behavior often stems from low self-esteem. Encourage your child to work on building their self-esteem and confidence.

Psychologists advise acting out bullying scenarios. Act out different bullying scenarios with your child so that he or she can identify and resist when something like this actually happens to him or her. Successfully standing up to bullying is a skill that children can learn by practicing. Point out that the bully is looking for a response that will make them feel powerful. Teach your child not to react emotionally, which can make the situation worse.

At the same time, it is important to teach your child when to ask for help. Your child may not be able to defeat the bullying every time, especially if it is aggressive, harmful, and physical. Children often become silent and passive in such situations. It is important for adults to be involved in cases of extreme bullying. Encourage your children to involve adults or to open up to you during difficult times. Let them know that you are behind them.

In addition, psychologists emphasize the importance of teaching children to protect themselves from bullying with one firm word - "no." Make it clear that "no" means "no" and that any further coercion is unacceptable. Also, teach them to stop certain behaviors when asked. And if a "friend" won't stop annoying them when asked, they are not safe to be around. This will not only help your children avoid bullies but also predators.