Parent/Teacher Olweus Kick-off
August 28, 2008
Thursday night the community joined school staff to learn how the introduction of Olweus programming PK-12 will assist students in dealing with bullying and harassing behaviors. The following article can help you know what to do as a starting point.
Standing Up to a
Bully
If your child is verbally bullied, teach him or her how to respond
effectively. Discuss the following strategies with your child.
Practicing the strategies with you or another trusted adult will
help develop the confidence to end the bullying. If the bullying is
happening at school, speak to your child's classroom teacher or
advisor so they can help.
Ignore the Bully
Teach your child to ignore the bully. Your child should not make
faces, cry, sigh, or make any gesture signaling distress. Often,
when bullies don't get a reaction, they stop.
Walk Away
Your child can choose to walk away in a confident manner - head up,
back straight and with a normal walking pace. Your child needs to
be aware of being followed and walk to a safer place, usually near
adults. If the bully says mean things, continue to ignore and walk
away.
Tell the Bully to "Stop"
Keeping a distance of 1½ to 2 arm lengths, have your child say,
"Stop!" or, "Cut it out!"
Teach your child to:
1. Make eye contact.
2. Express confident body language; head up, back straight, arms
down in front or on the side of the body and feet at shoulder
width. No fidgeting!
3. Speak clearly - a steady tone, not too loud, too soft, whiny or
sarcastic.
4. Make short statements such as, "Stop!" or "Cut it out!"
5. Then turn and walk away.
Go to a Trusted Adult
When other strategies fail, or there is immediate danger, tell your
child to go to a trusted adult. This is not tattling; this is
requesting assistance with a serious problem.
©2008 www.BalanceEducationalServices.com
Permission is granted to use this article.
