An overview of the problem of bullying in schools and what can be done to prevent it.
This paper examines how, in today’s society, bullying can be defined much differently than in former decades; bullying today has become much more severe, and even life threatening. It looks at how, while school-aged children are being bullied daily, many parents, teachers, and counselors are unaware of the problem. In order to fully understand why bullying is harmful, it considers what bullying is, why some children more susceptible, and what the signs are that a child is being bullied. It also looks at how one can prevent bullying and help children deal with it and the importance of putting a stop to it.
To help children cope with bullying, the parent should first reinforce what has been taught; if a child is being verbally abused, try to encourage him or her to ignore the bully. If ignoring the bully does not work, children should then be encouraged to speak with their teachers, guidance counselors, or other authority figures. Parents should remain calm and not overreact when children speak to them about being bullied. It may be a parent’s first instinct to go to school and try to take care of it, but depending on the severity of the bullying, this may not be the best idea. However, if the bullying continues or gets physical, then a parent must intervene. Parents should first speak with their child’s teacher, counselor, or principal, and if necessary, they should contact the bully’s parents.