Responsible parenting helps curb bullying
WITH the new school year already in full gear, one of the issues that schools seem to be facing is that of bullying.
Bullying is when a person commits an action with malicious intent, to scare or prank a victim who they (the bullies) perceive as the weaker party. According to the Ministry of Health, bullying is a repetitive act of aggression with the purpose of hurting another individual, physically, mentally or emotionally.
The bully does this by using physical or emotional strength and prowess to their advantage. Another indicator of bullying is when these actions are observed to be repeated over a certain period of time.
There are many factors that suggest those who are inclined to bullying others lack parental guidance on the importance of respecting others, and are also likely to be influenced by their problematic surrounding. Young minds subconciously pick up what the adults do because they think it’s acceptable.
Bullying may also be a form of expressing “revenge” because the individual was probably once bullied too. Immaturity tends to manifest into unwarranted hatred and children may still lack control over it.
The worst case scenario is when a student is desensitised to bullying and violence, thus losing all sense of mercy and humanity which may be
WHAT PARENTS CAN DO
If these “symptoms” are observed in children, parents need to play a prominent role to treat them. There are five main responsibilities. Firstly, ensure that our own children are not the bullies. Secondly, they need to understand the significance of reporting cases of bullying.
The former will teach them to respect and show empathy towards others. Enhance their ability to socialise positively and to control their rage and frustrations in a constructive manner. Show them that they’re capable of having a firm sense of self-respect without the need to display any form of aggression.
Meanwhile, encourage children to share about incidents that happen in school, especially those involving any form of violence. Create a safe space for them to voice their thoughts without judgement so they don’t feel like they’re burdening you. Highlight the difference between “reporting” and “bothering with people’s issues” so they understand when is the right instance to come forward with their issues.
Responsible parenting can help to curb bullying. Always observe and monitor the children’s activities. Be aware of any changes in behaviour, like depression, paranoia or any signs of marks and bruises.
In addition, parents must be attentive listeners to their kids. Identify their weaknesses and help them build their confidence through positive activities. Once they become an outstanding, talented and skillful individual through music, sports, studies and so on, they’ll be a less attractive target for the cowards called bullies.