What an honor to welcome our guest writer Madeleine Dean for this very important topic: bullying prevention! She shares effective ways that parents and teachers can work together to prevent bullying. These tips work well for all teachers and parents.
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The Definition & Causes of Bullying
Bullying can take the form of multiple actions, from a text message to a mean comment to excluding or rumor spreading.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Department of Education, the definition of bullying is, βunwanted aggressive behavior; observed or perceived power imbalance.”
Bullying is a huge problem today with 20% of students between 12-18 experiencing bullying.
Whatever form bullying takes, it is harmful to the person being bullied and can cause lifelong negative effects.
All teachers, parents, administrators, and schools need to unite to fight against bullying and help kids feel safe in every environment.
What Are the Different Types of Bullying?
Before we dig into the details of how parents and teachers can work together to prevent bullying, let’s examine the different types of bullying.
The two most common types of bullying are verbal and social, but what exactly do those look like among students?
- Verbal bullying is forceful language used to criticize an individual or their character.
- With verbal bullying, harsh language is used to gain power over peers.
- Cyber bullying, which can be a form of verbal bullying, is one of the most common types of bullying with 44% of middle schoolers experiencing name-calling in school and online.
- Social bullying also utilizes social exclusion tactics to humiliate someone else.
- These tactics can range from spreading rumors to encouraging others to exclude an individual.
No matter what kind of bullying happens, different yet effective, methods can be used to prevent it by both parents and teachers.
Where Does Bullying Take Place?
When parents and teachers know where bullying takes place, they can more effectively take action against it.
Bullying can take place anywhere! This list gives you some common examples:
- School classrooms, cafeteria, hallways, and recess playgrounds
- Neighborhood playground
- Social media sites
- Text messages and phone conversations
- Field Trips
- Church Youth Groups.
The highest percentage of bullying takes place in the classroom, but very few times is this bullying reported to a teacher, coach, or school counselor.
How Schools Can Protect Kids from Bullying
One of the ways teachers and parents can work together to prevent bullying is to increase our awareness and sensitivity to it.
Since bullying is most prevalent at school, teachers need to be aware of the different dynamics that exist between students.
When teachers observe bullying or even perceived bullying, they need to address the behavior immediately by establishing a No-Bully Zone!
Additionally, it’s important for teachers to model and directly teach positive character traits and behavior expectations.
Teachers can also contribute to bullying prevention by setting classroom rules and making expectations that build an atmosphere of respect.
Related Resources That Help Teachers Establish a Respectful Classroom:
- Character Education Graphic Organizers
- Children’s Books that Teach The Golden Rule
- How I Use The Golden Rule for Classroom Management
- Useful Resources for Culturally Responsive Teaching
When teachers recognize how to deal with bullies in the classroom, they can communicate with parents to form an action plan to prevent bullying.
How Parents Can Protect Their Kids from Bullying
Another way that parents and teachers can work together to prevent bullying involves more home-school communication.
Parents should also make an effort to prevent bullying no matter where it takes place.
Communicating with your child about details such as:
- What his or her school day is like,
- Who he or she spends time with,
- Asking about your child’s friends,
- Being aware of your child’s mood changes before and after school,
- Keeping close contact with the classroom teacher
All of these communication tips will help to present parents with a view of what is going on at school. Parents can also help their children to identify what bullying is and how to cope with it in healthy ways.
When children feel safe to confide in their parents, then parents can work with the school teachers and administration to create a plan to help stop bullying.
Helping children to know that there are people they can go to for help will give them the confidence to face their bully without feeling defeated or alone.
In addition to these tips, parents and teachers can use books and other resources to build a plan against bullying in and outside of the classroom.
More Resources for Bullying Prevention
When parents and teachers work together to prevent bullying, kids can have a safe environment with the support that they can lean on if they feel unsafe.
Here are more resources to help you stand strong against bullying in your school and home:
- Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard: Preventing and Responding to Cyberbullying
- Create a Culture of Kindness in Middle School: 48 Character-Building Lessons to Foster Respect and Prevent Bullying
- Light Up Our Class with Kindness: An interactive bulletin board resource for teachers & schools
- Play Nice, Work Hard, Stay Kind Set
Character education resources, like the one shown above, teach children positive behaviors and attitudes.
Activities like this can also be used at home with parents or at school during center rotations.
It is never too late or too early for parents and teachers to work together to stop bullying and help bullies and victims heal!
Author Bio: Madeleine Dean works with Alpine Union School District, located in Alpine, California, to promote new learning initiatives and innovative programs. Madeleine has a passion for learning and education and helping students reach their goals.
2 Responses
Great article!
Thanks
Thanks Lydia!