3 Ways to Help Your Child Heal From Bullying
As you know, bullying can be a traumatic event in a child’s life.
They deserve to feel safe, so when bullying occurs, you have to do what you can to combat the toll that bullying can take on your child. Here are a few ways you can help your child heal from bullying.
- Reassure your child that they are safe and connect with them emotionally
It might be hard to say calm, positive, and hopeful, but that is what your child needs from you at this moment. Be a listening ear. Ask questions to gain an understanding of the situation. Reassure your child that they are not to blame and that they are safe with you. You are on their side.
- Do what you can to directly help the bullying situation
This might look like coaching your child on how to react if future situations occur. People who bully others often pick on people who they can get a reaction from. They also look for kids who might not always stand up for themselves. Empower your child to walk away from hurtful or dangerous people or situations and teach them who to go to when things like that happen.
If they are at school, make sure they have a teacher or administrator they trust and can reach out to for help. Let them know you are there for them too.
In some situations, professional counseling might be necessary. If it is, finding a therapist your child feels comfortable with can be a great step. A therapist’s outside perspective and emotional support can make a big difference in how quickly your child overcomes this hard time.
- Empower your child
Your child might not feel the best about themselves after being bullied. Help them renew their self esteem. There are many ways you could do this, but here are just a few:
- Find something your child is really good at- Give them opportunities to have positive experiences to help renew their confidence in how awesome they are!
- Seek opportunities for your child to have fun with peers- This might mean making new friendships or reaching out to current friends and spending more time together. Give your child the chance to interact with peers who lift them up and make them feel good about themselves.
- Encourage physical activity- Often, getting outside and burning off some energy can help your child work through some of the hard feelings they may be having. They might be more willing to talk when they feel good physically.
Working through the effects of bullying can be hard work for everyone involved, but we hope this helps you to feel empowered as you work to empower your child. You are not alone!
SOURCES:
Is Your Child Being Bullied? 9 Steps You Can Take as a Parent
5 Recommendations to Help a Child Recover From Severe Bullying
4 Practical Ways to Help Your Child Recover From Severe Bullying Trauma