Overcoming Bullying Together with Gemma Hills

How can you help a child if you don’t even know they need the help? What if you’re happily dropping your kids off at school in the morning oblivious to what they’re about to experience? Or what if you’ve a feeling something is wrong but they just won’t open up? If you wake in the night worrying your child wouldn’t tell you if they were a target for bullying then this is for you.

We’ve all heard people recount stories of how the quiet kids snapped one day in class after months of torment from the class bully and lashed out, put the other kids on their butt and there in that single defining moment was the last time someone picked on them. It happens.  We all know it does.  Fighting back is what a lot of people resort to in order to make the bullying stop. Many parents sign their kids up for self-defence or martial arts lessons in hope they’ll build their confidence and make them more physically capable of defending themselves.  While this may work for some it doesn’t work for everyone.  If your child doesn’t want to physically fight back or you’re not comfortable with it then this episode is to reassure you it’s not the only option.  Actually, there’s another way which is far more effective.

Your child’s being bullied at school and you’re about to speak with the teacher.  Here are 3 essential steps when approaching the school if you want a successful outcome.

You’ve wondered day and night why on earth your child is having to deal with this nightmare.  You’ve wracked your brains as to what has caused this. Is your child too sensitive?  Should you help them toughen up? Maybe they need to physically fight back?  But you can’t imagine them ever doing that. Maybe if they had more fashionable clothes, were part of the popular group, didn’t have that one thing which makes them stand out? Here is the freebie mentioned for the first steps you need to take: https://gemmahills.com/my-child-is-being-bullied/ The Beat the Bullies mini programme will guide you through each step you need to take to make the bullying stop. It even includes what to expect from the school and what to do if they're not doing what they should: https://gemmahills.com/beat-the-bullies/

We all know that bullies thrive on a reaction.  When they can see their words and actions are having an impact it fuels them and they keep going.  They thrive on feeling powerful and dominant.  As a result we often tell kids to not show they are bothered by what is being said or done.  But that can be easier said than done particularly when the bully is using something they know you are already self-conscious about such as your appearance. The best defence against bullying is a strong sense of self (self-confidence, self-esteem, self-belief and self-worth) yet most kids understandably struggle to feel good about themselves in the face of someone bullying them.  So what can they do instead?  I’m getting to that I just want to remind you of something first. Join me over on Facebook: facebook.com/gemmaehills