Bullying Tips:New Children’s Book Shows How to Protect Your Kids

The spotlight has been placed on bullying recently. It is not a new phenomenon but with the invasion of social media, it has become more obvious and seemingly more cruel as hundreds of people are able to witness the taunts. Marika Spaseska, social worker and author of a new book on bullying, The Cardboard Girl shares some advice to children being bullied.

Bullying can be physical (such as shoving, hitting or physical threats) or verbal (such as with insults or hurtful gossip). It can also often include a child telling another that they don’t want to play with them and urging others to join them in ignoring you.

If you’re being bullied or know someone who is, she advises:

Speak to someone about what is going on for you. It is good for you to talk about what is happening to someone, be it family, friends, teacher or a counselor.

Speak up: tell the kid who is bullying you to stop hurting you or others and that this is unfair. Tell them that what they are saying is nasty and hurtful and that they have no right to speak to you like that.

It’s ok to stand up for yourself.

Write down about what is happening to you, such as dates, times, who bullied you, who was there and what occurred (for example, in a diary).

Ask a teacher to also write down about what has happened to you. The teacher’s notes, as well as your own, may be useful to help with what you may decide to do to deal with being bullied (for example, the teacher discussing it with parents, it may involve reporting violence to the police, the bully being expelled, leaving the school or other options).

Value who you are, you are important, you can do things others may not – you’re special, unique.

Accept people from other cultures, races, ethnic backgrounds or who may look different to you (they may have a disability, be overweight, wear glasses, be tall with skinny legs).

Believe you deserve a safe environment at school.

Join in social sports, activities or exercise so that you can make friends outside of school. Exercise may make you feel better, too.

Believe that life gets better — there’s a whole world waiting for you outside the school gates.

Get more information from websites, from the library, parents or other ways to learn more about how to better deal with bullying.

She also offers these anti-bullying tips:

Don’t react like someone who is bullying you may do such as hit back, swear at them (name-calling) or put them down. You are only showing unfair behavior like them.

Don’t be silent. Silence suggests you’re allowing the bullying to occur and unknowingly saying “yes” to more of it.

Don’t allow being bullied to affect how you see yourself. You are a worthwhile person. It’s their problem they’re being hurtful.