Bullying encompasses aggressive actions where an individual intentionally and repeatedly inflicts harm or discomfort upon another person. This can range from verbal abuse affecting the victim's mental well-being, subtle yet impactful behaviors, extortion of money and possessions, to physical violence.

How to deal with bullying

No parent wants their child to experience bullying, but watching their child 24 hours a day is certainly difficult. If left unchecked, the effects of bullying can have a serious impact on children.

Here are some things you can suggest to your child to deal with bullies:

Avoiding perpetrators and utilizing the buddy system

Preventing bullying is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of children in school. Bullying tends to occur when children are alone and appear vulnerable. Avoiding interaction with bullies can reduce the likelihood of being targeted.

Additionally, the buddy system, where friends provide a sense of security and boost self-confidence, plays a vital role. Having supportive friends who listen and offer assistance helps reduce the risk of stress and mental health issues.

Withstanding emotions

It is normal for children to become angry with other children who are bullied. However, reacting strongly may escalate the situation, particularly if the bully is physically stronger or has support from others.

Encourage your child to refrain from reacting, avoid crying or displaying anger, and calmly walk away to ensure safety and avoid provoking further reactions from the bully.

Show courage and disregard

Encourage children to be assertive and courageous by asking the bully to cease their bullying behavior. After making a clear statement to stop the intimidation, advise them to disregard any negative or hurtful remarks.

By ignoring bullying and remaining indifferent, bullies may lose interest and cease bothering your child.

Telling an adult

Another important aspect is educating children to communicate any bullying incidents to parents and teachers. Children often choose to stay silent about their experiences out of fear that their parents might react angrily or punish them.

As a parent, it's essential to be attentive and supportive, demonstrating understanding of your child's feelings. Subsequently, you may need to engage with teachers, principals, staff, or authorities to address and resolve the issue.

When should you take your child to the doctor?

Bullying can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. Bullied children are more likely to experience varying degrees of anxiety and depression.

Encourage children to visit a doctor and seek further evaluation if they exhibit the following signs:

• Experiencing changes in eating patterns and weight, either refusing to eat or eating excessively
• Having difficulty sleeping or sleeping excessively
• Feeling unhappy or worthless
• No longer finding pleasure in usual enjoyable activities
• Frequently crying unexpectedly
• Struggling to concentrate and focus at school
• Often withdrawing and isolating oneself
• Frequently complaining of headaches or stomach aches
• Thinking about self-harm
• Attempting suicide

Do you have a lot of inquiries concerning child bullying? Please visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

Looking for more information about pregnancy, breastfeeding, and the health of women and children? Click here!