Most likely everyone has had to deal with some form of bullying in their life. Unfortunately, some of the most vulnerable, yet unique, people in the world are the ones that take the brunt of that bullying.
Bullying has always been around but it has been taken to a whole new level with the use of social media. Think back to your youth and reflect on some of your most embarrassing moments growing up. Now, imagine someone videoing, photographing or writing about this moment and sharing it with everyone in the class/school. Terrifying, isn't it.
The ramifications of a child getting bullied over and over again, especially when others, including parents, don't take action on the part of the victim can have negative life long impacts. It's not just about the bully and the victim....it is also about all the passive observers of this activity.
So, do you know of someone being bullied? Do you ask your children if they are being bullied? How do you react if they tell you that they are being bullied? How do you respond if they tell you one of their friends or classmates are being bullied? What do you do if you find out your child is the one bullying someone else?
I often ask my daughter if she or anyone in her class is being bullied. I would recommend that you make an effort to have that conversation with your children, too, if you haven't already. Please don't assume that it isn't happening unless they come to you to talk about it. I assume that it is happening and I need to find out who is involved on both sides of the interaction and then to find out who needs to be informed to bring resolve to the bullying.
There are many online resources for parents and children regarding bullying so make sure you utilize those resources if you find the need. Here are a few:
Here are a couple of videos that I thought are worth watching regarding bullying:
(The above documentary, "Bully", is on Netflix)
(The above poem is by Shane Koyczan)
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