HELP KIDS RISE ABOVE CRUEL BULLIES’ TAUNTS

Research has found that 55 per cent of young people have been bullied about the way they look, but there’s a lot you can do to help them ignore it... and flourish

Bullying seems to have become the norm. I think it began with shows like The X Factor, where huge audiences were encouraged to laugh at other people. I felt so uneasy watching that, eventually I banned my kids from seeing those types of shows altogether.

BOOST SELF-ESTEEM

Now social media has given a growing platform for horrible behaviour, and kids are at risk. Young people are more aware than ever about their physical appearance, so it’s easy for bullies to make them feel insecure. I firmly believe that self-esteem begins at home and you can help your children form positive self-image by being body positive yourself. Big up both yourself and your kids. Remind them of all their internal strengths and talents and help them to see that other people’s opinions are not facts. Explain that bullies thrive on making other people feel bad, so the best way to deal with them is to ignore them. Encourage kids to tell you when they feel upset, so they feel safe to explore fears.

BE CONSTRUCTIVE

If your child is bullied because of a genuine issue that worries them – acne, for example – be constructive. Ask what they want to change and if possible create a plan to help them. This way, your child will feel in control and the bully becomes the motivator for positive change. When my son went to high school, one of his “mates” called him “bog-eyed”, because he had a squint. He had tried to accept it, but really he wanted it fixed. After his surgery, his confidence boomed, and now he is grateful for that comment, as it led him to ask for help. Studies show that kids who learn martial arts such as karate have a better ability to deal with bullies, as it promotes inner strength and physical ability to deal with threats.

ACT QUICKLY

Nip any nastiness in the bud by speaking to their school or the parents of the bully to prevent it from escalating. If it’s online, encourage them to block, report or ignore haters, because that will help your kids realise that if they aren’t allowing themselves to be exposed to it, then it can’t hurt them.