Bully A Nuisance
Hounding is often considered a "kids will be kids" problem. But according to the National School Safety Center, however, bullying has become a pervasive and serious form of harassment in many schools. Some expert on bully-victim problems reports that one child in 10 is regularly attacked either verbally or physically by bullies. Simple school-age children are the most frequent target of bullying by older students, the best way to safeguard your children from becoming a victim of a bully is to teach them how to be assertive.
It involves encouraging your children to express their feelings clearly, to say no when they feel pressured or uncomfortable, to stand up for themselves verbally without fighting, and to walk away in more dangerous situations. The bullies are less likely to intimidate children who are confident and resourceful. Always teach your children early on to steer clear of youth with bullying behavior. Help your children to be assertive rather than aggressive or violent when confronted by a bully, instruct them to walk away and get help from an adult in more dangerous situations. Do practice various responses with your children through role-playing. Educate your children to never defend themselves from bullies with a gun or other weapon. Until the end of time Keep communication lines open with your children, encourage your children to share information about school and school-related activities. Constantly pay attention to the following symptoms that may indicate your child is being bullied: withdrawal, abrupt lack of interest in school, a drop in grades, or signs of physical abuse.
And if your child is a victim of bullying at school, inform school officials immediately. Do keep your own written records of the names, dates, times, and circumstances of bullying incidents and submit a copy of this report to the school principal. For all time Respond to your children's concerns and fears with patience, love, and support. Another problem is sexual harassment; it is a form of violence that encompasses a wide range of offensive behaviors, including include touching, pinching, grabbing, and patting; comments about one's body; degrading graffiti on walls and bathrooms; sexual remarks, gestures, and jokes that demean others; passing obscene notes; and spreading rumors. One to one sexual harassment is one of the most widespread forms of violence in schools today. Learning conducted by the American Association of University Women reported that 81 percent of girls and boys have experienced unwanted sexual advances, because many of these behaviors are dismissed as flirting, few students report incidents of sexual harassment to teachers or parents. The young harassers learn their behaviors from adults, peers, and the media. Guardians can model and teach their children to respect the rights, bodies, and property of others, and to reject gender stereotypes that say boys are expected to be dominant and aggressive while girls are expected to be passive and submissive.
About the Author: Jennifer Fairbanks is a community supporter and researcher in violence against women along with her side business family violence prevention fund.
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Print Article | Download PDF | 28 views | Mar 30 2008
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