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As parents, you only want the best for your kids. You probably do everything you can to shield them from this cruel world and protect them from the dangers that prevail outside. When they are babies, it’s easy to achieve this because they are always with you and in your arms. However, as they grow older and begin to go to school, things change. It’s tough out there, and kids can be cruel and mean. Your children might be victims of bullying, and that might be a scary thing. While it’s important to teach your kids to be kind, it’s also equally important to teach them to stand up for themselves. Here are a few ways you can help your kids gain confidence and stand up for themselves:
1. Understand The Pandemic Problem
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Your children pick up social skills naturally when they interact with other kids in their school. With limited face-to-face interaction and increased virtual connection, these skills might take a hit. It’s an inevitable consequence of the pandemic, and as a parent, you have to understand its repercussions. Your kids might be affected in many ways because of the change in their routine. While virtual learning and interaction have helped children stay connected, it is not the same as physical interaction. Therefore, you have to be aware of these unfortunate circumstances and take appropriate action.
2. Talk To Your Kids About Friendship
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Teach your children about what friendship means. As kids, it’s easy for them to get carried away by their peers and not realize when they are being bullied. All it takes for a kid to begin a friendship is to like the same cartoons or share an interest in similar toys. Talk to them about friendship and what it means to be real friends. Invite your children’s friends over so you know who they are hanging out with. It helps to understand their relationships and what they endure.
3. Teach Them How To Be Assertive
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You might want to protect your kids from all harm. However, eventually, they have to start saving themselves. If you’re concerned about when your child will learn to stand up for themselves, teach them the skill of being assertive. It’s different from being aggressive, and they must know the difference. It helps your kid learn how to be expressive and speak up in general. The more they practice this skill, the more confidence they develop. Teaching them how to say “no” is always a way to build assertiveness.
4. What It Means To Be Bullied
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You have to make your kids understand what it means to be bullied. Some children don’t know that they are being bullied and become vulnerable to aggressive interactions. Teach your kids what it means, and give them the space to come forward and talk to you about it. Being bullied and calling it a “joke” is unacceptable.
5. Offer Them The Right Support
Don’t push your kids to come forward and complain about their bullies. It defeats the purpose if they are being bullied into complaining about a bully. Instead, lend them an attentive ear and be there for them. Offer them moral support, so they know they don’t have to feel alone. You may suggest solutions like informing the school, talking to the aggressor’s parents, or confronting the bully with a teacher present. But leave the choice up to them.
Most of the time, schools offer support to children being bullied. They help them practice their social skills, which is a great advantage for children who struggle with social interaction. You might think that social skills develop naturally, but children need guidance and support to learn how to be social, especially in situations that involve bullying. Therefore, set the right example to your kids and help them stand up for themselves by showing them how to do it. Was this article helpful? Share it with your friends and family.
