It can be challenging for teachers when a child exhibits signs of bullying. However, it is important to understand that bullying is a complex behaviour with various underlying causes, such as a lack of social skills, emotional difficulties or even personal insecurities. Thus, teachers must be incredibly careful, patient and empathetic while addressing bullying behaviour in children. In this article, we’ll discuss a few ways in which teachers can perceive and address signs of bullying behaviours in children.
-
Look For The Signs
The first step in addressing bullying behaviour in children is to recognize its signs in children. Generally, children who bully others may exhibit signs such as aggression, getting into verbal or physical fights with others, forming groups to bully others, etc. Recognizing these signs in students is key to early intervention, which can be crucial for both children who bully and also those who may be the victims of bullying.
-
Understand The Root Cause
As mentioned earlier, bullying is a complex behaviour with many underlying causes. Bullying may often stem from underlying issues such as low self-esteem, academic struggles or even violence or other issues at home. Thus, it is important to talk to the child in a safe and non-judgmental environment to understand their behaviour. Once you understand the root cause, you will have a clearer perception of their struggles.
-
Set Boundaries And Consequences
While it is important to understand and be empathetic towards children who bully, it is also equally important to set clear boundaries and expectations around which behaviour is appropriate and what is not. Establish rules that communicate the unacceptability of bullying behaviour, and set clear consequences that would follow if these boundaries were crossed. However, be careful that these consequences encourage children to make constructive changes instead of being punitive. Consistently setting boundaries is likely to cause behavioural changes over time.
-
Encourage Empathy And Compassion
An effective way of reducing bullying behaviours among children is to teach them empathy. Classroom activities such as role-playing and storytelling through creative means can be effective in making children understand how their behaviour impacts others.
-
Create Opportunities for Them to Connect with Others
Children who bully others may often struggle to form healthy connections, which may lead them to resort to bullying. Thus, it is important to get them involved with others so that they can have positive social connections. By involving them in group activities, you can help them to build confidence and enhance their social skills, leading to reduced need for bullying.
-
Praise Them For Any Positive Changes
Acknowledging even small yet positive changes can motivate children to continue improving their behaviours. Acknowledging progress, whether it’s showing respect, helping others, or controlling impulses, serves as a validation for them and makes them more committed towards change, also helping their confidence in the process.
-
Involve The Parents If Necessary
Sometimes, activities or steps taken at school may not be enough, especially if the bullying is triggered by factors at home. In such cases, it may be beneficial to involve the student’s parents. However, ensure that you handle the conversation with sensitivity without endangering the child’s sense of safety, explaining to parents how collaboration is important and helpful for the child.
-
Model Positive Behaviours
Children are quite open to learning from their environment. Thus, observation and modelling become effective ways to influence a child’s behaviour. Demonstrating kindness and effective communication skills in the classroom can help children learn positive ways to connect without resorting to bullying.
-
Talk To A Professional
If bullying persists despite interventions and involvement from parents, consider consulting a trained child psychologist. A trained professional can help uncover the root cause of bullying while designing effective interventions to deal with it. In fact, early intervention can help prevent bullying behaviours before they escalate.
Conclusion:
Perceiving and helping a student who exhibits bullying behaviour requires a careful balance of empathy, boundaries and collaboration. By identifying the signs of bullying, understanding root causes, setting effective boundaries and modelling positive behaviours, both parents and teachers can help students change their behaviours and connect with others in healthier ways. The key is to be patient and seek appropriate professional help when needed.
References:
- Anti-Bullying Pro. (n.d.). Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://www.antibullyingpro.com/support-and-advice-articles/how-to-support-a-student-who-displays-bullying-behaviour
- How to effectively engage a child who is showing bullying behavior. (2020).
- Reducing Bullying in Schools | 10 Effective Methods. (n.d.). Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI). Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://www.crisisprevention.com/blog/education/reducing-bullying-in-schools-10-effective-tips/
