10 Tips For Children To Navigate Bullying and Friendship Challenges

By Marnie Adams, Contributor @ Kids In Perth 21 Apr 2024

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Image/Video Credit: Prosper Health Collective, Facebook, YouTube, Online.

Created in collaboration with Stephanie Di Giovanni from Prosper Health Collective

What is Bullying?

Bullying is when someone deliberately and repeatedly hurts another person emotionally and/or physically.

Overt Bullying includes teasing, saying mean things, name-calling, pushing, hitting and damaging property.

Covert Bullying can include deliberately ignoring someone, leaving them out of activities, encouraging other peers to exclude them, spreading rumours, embarrassing them, and asking for money.

Bullying can happen face-to-face and online (Cyberbullying).

All bullying is hurtful and can cause long-lasting harm to a person’s emotional well-being, self-esteem and confidence.

Signs of Bullying in Children Changes in behaviour:

Sudden mood swings or emotional changes
Withdrawal from friends, family, or activities they once enjoyed
Unexplained changes in sleep or eating pattern

Physical Symptoms:

Unexplained injuries or damage to personal belongings
Frequent headaches or stomach aches

Academic Issues:

Sudden decline in academic performance
Reluctance to attend school or participate in class activities
Feeling unhappy or anxious before or after school

Image/Video Credit: Prosper Health Collective, Facebook, YouTube, Online.

Social Isolation:

Loss of friends, avoiding social situations, seeing peers less frequently
Expressing feelings of loneliness or rejection

Emotional Signs:

Increased anxiety or signs of depression
Expressing feelings of helplessness (“I can’t do anything”) or worthlessness (“I am not a good person”).
Not wanting to try new things.

Changes in Technology Use:

Unwillingness to use electronic devices or social media. Seems upset during or after being online, or unexpectedly deleting social media accounts.

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Image/Video Credit: Prosper Health Collective, Facebook, YouTube, Online.

What to do

Communication

Talk openly and calmly. Assure them that you just want to support them.
Encourage them to share their feelings and experiences. Ask open-ended questions. Summarise what they tell you so they know you understand

Active Listening

Listen to their story without distractions, interrupting, advice, and judgement.

Manage your emotional reaction (anger, anxiety, sadness) so they feel safe to speak.

Allow them to express themselves at their own pace.

Use non-verbal cues to show engagement (nod, face them, eye-contact)

Acknowledge your child’s feelings and let them know it’s okay to feel upset, angry, or scared.

Validating their emotions will help build trust

Conflict Resolution

Offer your support to problem-solve together. Let them know they are not alone.
Collaboratively identify solutions your child feels comfortable with
Document the Incidents. Keep a record of specific incidents, including dates, times, locations, and people involved in case you need this later. Ask your child if they feel comfortable to do this and explain why
Contact the School. Talk to your child about reaching out to the school for support. Discuss the importance of school involvement. Listen to any concerns they might have about this and provide them with reassurance
Reach out to your child’s school to discuss the situation. Provide them with the documented incidents and ask for their intervention
Educate yourself and your child. Teach your child about different forms of bullying, respectful behaviour, consequences of bullying and the importance of empathy
Help them develop assertiveness skills to respond to bullying in a confident manner. Encourage them to speak up for themselves and set boundaries

Encourage Peer Support

Help your child identify supportive friends or peers who can provide companionship and assistance
Promote a Positive Environment at Home
Foster a supportive and open atmosphere at home where your child feels comfortable sharing their experiences
Notice when your child is stepping outside of their comfort zone, asserting themselves and opening up to you and reinforce this to build their confidence
Monitor and Follow up
Monitor your child’s well-being and follow up to see if there are new incidents or improvements. Choose the right time and place (a quiet, comfortable and private space with no interruptions)
Seek Professional Help
If your child is struggling emotionally, consider involving a mental health professional to provide support

Every child is different so your approach may need to be adjusted based on their personality and situation.

The key is creating a safe and open environment where your child feels comfortable sharing experiences and seeking help when needed.

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