There are several strategies which address ways to help reduce bullying, these include:
- Make sure an adult knows what is happening to their children.
- Actually enforce anti bully laws.
- Make it clear that bullying is never acceptable.
- Recognize that bullying can occur at all levels within the hierarchy of the school (i.e., including adults).
- Hold a school conference day or forum devoted to bully/victim problems.
- Increase adult supervision in the yard, halls and washrooms more vigilantly.
- Emphasize caring, respect and safety.
- Emphasize consequences of hurting others.
- Enforce consistent and immediate consequences for aggressive behaviors.
- Improve communication among school administrators, teachers, parents and students.
- Have a school problem box where kids can report problems, concerns and offer suggestions.
- Teach cooperative learning activities.
- Help bullies with anger control and the development of empathy.
- Encourage positive peer relations.
- Offer a variety of extracurricular activities which appeal to a range of interests
- Teach your child to defend himself or herself, verbally and physically, if necessary.
- Keep in mind the range of possible causes: e.g., medical, psychiatric, psychological, developmental, family problems, etc.
- If problems continue in your school, press harassment charges against the family of the person who is bullying you.
- Adjust teacher preparation programs to include appropriate bullying interventions to use in their classroom.
