Bullying the one of the common culprits of depression and suicide in teens and preteens. Did you know that 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys have reported that they experienced bullying in either their schools or online? In a world where conversations have eventually evolved from talking to their peers inside the classroom, bullying extended to the online sphere as well. This is why there are many campaigns on how to stop bullying and cyberbullying.
This post is brought to you in part by Kyri Demby, the creator of Simon Faces Bull Lee the Blowfish. Simon Faces Bull Lee the Blowfish is a story that teaches Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) with regards to the topic of bullying. It provides a simple approach on how to respond to bullies for young children up to their pre-teen years. The book is a wonderful tool for teachers and parents to equip children when faced with a bullying crisis. Find in Amazon.
This post contains affiliate links.
How to stop bullying and cyberbullying: My personal experience
I was a victim of bullying myself in my years in primary school. I had a classmate who stepped on my books, made fun of my lunches, and was also ‘conned’ into paying someone money to be her friend. Young and innocent as I was, I didn’t know that these experiences have taken a dent on my self-esteem. Thankfully, I was transferred in another school where I eventually built confidence and succeeded until I graduated.
This is one of the reasons why I want to homeschool my children. I want them to be free from the unnecessary hurt and consequences of bullying, and to instill values early on that will prepare them for the world that awaits. Thankfully, there are tools available that I can use to teach about how to stop bullying behavior, such as Simon Faces Bull Lee the Blowfish. Whether you plan to homeschool or not, this resource is very helpful. In this post, I will be sharing tips, as inspired by the book, that can help you as parents or teachers on how to stop bullying and cyberbullying.
How to stop bullying and cyberbullying: Tips and strategies
Introduce the topic using age-appropriate language
When I was younger, I didn’t know that I was actually being bullied in the earlier times. Those instances in school–I believed that they were usual happenings and that’s how I can possibly be treated. Thankfully, my mom intervened early on, and explained to me what was going on. For instance, my mom explained that the girl who asked me for money to be her friend isn’t really my friend at all.
You can introduce the topic of bullying in children based on the language they understand. You can explain to them the signs and behaviors of a bully. Helping them identify if bullying is going on allows them to process the situation better, creating a response that solves the situation.
In Simon Faces Bull Lee the Blowfish, the “bully character”, who was Bull Lee Blowfish, was displayed as someone who is boisterous, rude, and proud. He has a line he always mentioned: “Boom! I’m bad, you can’t beat me!” This helps instill in children simply that behavior in these lines can signify that someone is being a bully.
Explain a set of instructions for dealing with the situation
The next step on how to stop bullying in schools and even at home is to equip children with simple instructions. For example, in Simon Faces Bull Lee the Blowfish, a common line mentioned was “Stop, Think, and Breathe – Don’t fear the Bully”. This is something simple that children can remember on how to respond to bullying appropriately.
Even in online situations, such as teens or preteens talking in messaging apps with their friends, cyberbullying can also happen. You can instill a set of instructions such as:
- Letting you know when someone said something inappropriate
- Reporting the behavior to a teacher (if interaction is within school-related premises)
- Ignoring
The set of instructions is all up to your informed decision as a parent. This will equip your child to face bullying situations even when you’re away.
Encourage open conversations
Some children allow themselves to be bullied because they have a fear of opening up. They don’t want to open up because they are scared that you will tell on the classmate and they will experience more trouble.
It is important for children to be assured that the only consequence of their actions is their own safety. Show your children that you are calm, collected, and can deal with the situation maturely as possible. Even when you don’t suspect anything, let them know that you are there to listen to whatever they are going through. This helps you to get information without snooping, and it builds your child’s trust towards your relationship.
Use stories and examples
Stories help inspire children to pick up positive behaviors. In the story, Simon Faces Bull Lee the Blowfish, Simon handled the situation appropriately and faced the bully with courage and compassion.
Stories help children understand that there are similarities in their life situations and the things they read, which helps them apply lessons that can help them. Inspiring examples, social story books, and your own personal experience can empower them to stand up against bullies and to respond in a way that will keep them safe and not harm their psyche.
I hope you found these tips on how to stop bullying in the classroom and at home helpful! Don’t forget to pick up a copy of Simon Faces Bull Lee the Blowfish in Amazon. For virtual learning and teacher tips, don’t forget to check out Kyri Demby’s website as well.
Also read:
- Virtual Learning Tips For Parents: Demby’s Playful Parables
- Teaching About Autism Awareness: Rio Book Series
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Love that this issue is being addressed so well and at a young age! So important!
All such great tips should we ever come across this with our kiddos
Having open communication with your kids is so important. I will look up this book.
For some reason, I wouldnt have ever thought that this was a topic that could be talked to with small kids, especially using a book. But I’m glad it exists. That way if my daughter ever comes across it, I can find some techniques to help her with it.
Kids can be so mean. This book looks like a great resource to start a conversation. Definitely going to check this out!
I love that you are planning to homeschool. We have six kids and have been homeschooling 11 years, bullying is one of the many reasons we do it!
It’s crazy to think that this needs to be addressed at such a young age. But that is just the world we live in now.
I definitely need to add this book to my kiddo’s collection.
Like Cyndi mentioned above, it is sad to have to address these issues at this age, but since it is how it is, I sure am glad we have these resources to help us
I love addressing issues with books. Thank you!
This sounds like a great book to teach kids about bullying.
It’s great that we have books like this to teach our children about bullying. I don’t see many books out there that address this issue. This is such a helpful tool for parents!
Cyber bullying is really a serious concern today. These tips sound quite helpful.