It is never a pleasant experience when loving parents find out that their child is bullying others. The crucial reaction is not to deny it or pretend it doesn’t exist. The child must be confronted, and the tone of the communication must be both direct and supportive. They must realise that whilst you deeply care about their feelings and wellbeing, their behaviour needs to change.
Below are some helpful tips by Dr. Christine Carter, Mary Gordon, Pat Mitchell and Dr. June Reynolds:
- One building block toward empathy can be talking with them about their feelings and emotions.
- Model empathetic, compassionate behavior by treating children and others respectfully.
- Share your own experiences of vulnerability with your children.
- Provide consequences for bad behavior. If a child mistreats another, take away a privilege; if a child sends mean texts, take away his/her phone, for example.
- If a child mistreats others, examine the family and school dynamics for signs that he/she is feeling mistreated or powerless.
- Seek help from teachers and principals, other parents and mental health professionals, if necessary.
Topical Teaching 