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A Parent’s Guide to… Bullying

Posted by Amy Smith

Young girl student sitting alone with sad feeling at school

It can be tough to know the right words to say or how to handle certain situations when your child is being bullied. It’s never easy and is something we hope our child never has to deal with. Although we always hope the best for our children, sometimes these things are out of our control. Here are a few things you need to know when it comes to your child and bullying. 

  • Bullying can happen at school, on the playground or around the neighbourhood, as well as online through social media and texting.  
  • Different types of bullying include physical (kicking, pushing, hitting), verbal (taunting, teasing, and threatening), and social (exclusive behaviour and spreading rumours).  
  • Both boys and girls can be bullies, often targeting children who are different from them in some way.  

Weight-based bullying can be particularly challenging for children, as it can often make them feel self-conscious and isolated. Because of this, children who are teased about their body weight tend to avoid situations that can make them feel vulnerable – like PE lessons or taking part in games or physical activities in break time or after school. Long-term effects of bullying can include poor school performance, depression, and other mental health challenges. 

No one deserves to be teased and made to feel ashamed, no matter the reasoning behind the bullying. 

Here are a few tips for how to help your child when they are facing this type of bullying:

Tell an adult 

Encourage your child to tell a trusted adult at school about what is going on. This might be their favourite teacher, a coach, head teacher or counsellor. They may be able to help when you’re not around.  

Don’t react 

Remind your child to try to not react to the teasing and taunting.Bullies enjoy getting a rise and reaction out of their victims, like crying. If your child can stay calm and walk away from the bully, they are more likely to stop as they aren’t getting the reaction they were looking for. 

Monitor devices 

Cyber-bullying can be just as hurtful as physical bullying. Be sure to keep an eye on their social media accounts. You can even switch them to a private setting so only selected friends and family can follow them. 

Celebrate their strengths 

Commend your child’s strengths and qualities that have nothing to do with body weight. Saying things like, ‘Well done on your quiz today. You are so clever!’ or ‘Thank you for helping your sister today. That was very kind of you.’ will boost your child’s confidence and help maintain their self-esteem. 

Encourage them 

Taking part in activities they enjoy outside of school can help your child to create new relationships and friends away from the place they are bullied. Not only that, learning a new skill will make them feel accomplished. Maybe they’d like to try karate, gymnastics, or drama club! 

Check in at home 

Sadly, sometimes bullying can even happen at home, too. Siblings, cousins and even parents might use negative comments about a child’s body weight or appearance. If this is happening, be sure to address it with the family and set boundaries about treating each other with respect and kindness.  It’s important to talk to your child about bullying and reassure them that they can trust you with their problems. Together, you can find a solution.


Promote a healthy body image in your child


Check out our Parent’s Guide to mental health & body image for tips on how to encourage your child to feel comfortable in their own skin.