How to Recognise And Deal With Your Child If They Are A Bully?

A lot of parents worry that their child will be bullied but finding out they are the bully can make them doubt their parenting skills. Would you know how to regcognise and deal with your child if they are a bully?

However, there’s a reason behind every behaviour and in most cases, it can be solved without professional help.

Why Do Children Bully Others?

Children who are bullies might engage in such behaviour to get the attention they can’t get from their parents. If you’re divorced or work away from home, this is more likely to be causing the problem.

Additionally, if your child has a sibling, you might want to pay attention to how they interact. If a child is bullied at home, they might resort to this kind of behaviour in another environment to cope with feelings of inferiority.

Bullying can be a reflection of what’s going on at home but it doesn’t have to be. It can also be a way for a child to fit in with their peers or avoid being bullied themselves.

In some cases, children who are bullied turn to bullying behaviour to regain control. When it comes to very young children, they might not be able to understand how their behaviour affects others.

What To Do If My Child Is a Bully?

You have to understand the reason behind the behaviour to be able to help. Don’t beat around the bush and ask your child directly. However, avoid sounding accusatory or upset.

Make sure your child knows you want to understand their behaviour first. Be prepared to find out something upsetting about your child such as low self-esteem or problems at school.

Additionally, try to pay attention to your behaviour and the way you interact with your partner. If you and your partner call each other names, your child’s bullying might be a learned behaviour.

What To Do If Bullying Continues?

To stop the bullying from happening again, you have to correct your child’s behaviour.

Instead of simply telling them not to be a bully, try to teach your child about appropriate responses in certain scenarios. For example, tell them to invite everyone to a birthday party if they’re announcing it in front of the whole class.

Tell them to include all peers in their play and encourage them to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. If your child is an online bully, let them know you’ll be controlling their social media use.

Additionally, make sure that you communicate with your child. You have to know what’s going on in their lives to deal with their problematic behaviour better.

If the behaviour persists, consider seeking professional help.