Bye to bullies

Bullying can have devastating, even fatal, consequences for victims. Kids who are targets often have poor psychosocial functioning and higher levels of depression. They also suffer from anxiety and poor self-esteem. What can you do if your child complains that he is being bullied?

Take action:

Take his word for it – it's very unlikely that your child would lie about being bullied; don’t explode – your child will need your wisdom and advice; explain to your child that bullying is a sign of weakness, not strength; tell him that you’re going to try to help, but ask him for ideas on how the situation can be solved; don’t write off the bullying as "high jinks" or "part of the rough-and-tumble of being a child" – nobody deserves to be subjected to bullying; keep an eye on your child – some kids who are being bullied attempt suicide.

Read more: Dealing with that bully at work