Tips for dealing with bullies at school

It is almost the end of another school year and while learners and parents are looking forward to the holidays, before we know it the anxiety and excitement of starting a new school year will be upon us.

Helene Vermaak, Director at The Human Edge, said that we can all benefit from learning to deal with bullying, whether it be on the school playground, in the boardroom or from a rage-filled driver.

Vermaak provided parents with the following tips to assist them and their children in dealing with bullying at school:

• Build a support network – “Children that are being bullied often feel isolated and alone. Help them surround themselves with friends that will support them and stand by their side when they are being bullied – there is definitely strength in numbers”.

• Are there leaders at school that can help? “This could be teachers or prefects that you or your child can approach. Before approaching a representative of the school to have this crucial conversation, be sure that you gather all the facts – what occurred, who said what, and why?

• Share your good intentions – “Start the conversation with what you or your child would like to see as the outcome of the conversation”.

• Describe the gap – “Factually describe what happened and compare this to what behaviour is expected”.

• Ask an investigative question and listen to the response – “Once you have introduced the issue, without making accusations and laying the matter out in a non-judgmental way, ask a question that will reveal whether the school leader is aware of what is going on.

• Remind your children that they always have control over how they respond to the bully – “If one approach doesn’t work, there are alternative approaches. The situation can always be resolved”.

Many parents may not even be aware that their child is being bullied. Vermaak said that there are many signs that parents can look out for. They may point to several issues, but she cited some easy to recognise behaviour changes:

• An attitude change to school and activities that they previously enjoyed.

• A feeling of isolation and disengagement – they will often bring this behaviour home, where the whole family will experience it.

“What we want to avoid at all costs is a child feeling powerless. This often results in them feeling stuck, leading to them reacting in a way that can make the situation worse or they may resort to silence and ‘just living with’ the situation,” warned Vermaak.

For Vermaak, perhaps the most important piece of advice is that we build a sense of community that helps us humanise others.”We recognise ourselves in them and treat others with the respect and kindness we all deserve and this will make the world a better place”.