How Do You Stop Bullying? – Mass Appeal

CHICOPEE, Mass. (Mass Appeal)  25 to 33 % of school children report having been bullied, the highest incidence happening during middle school … so what can you do you stop it?  Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio, Author, Family Therapist, Health and Wellness Executive shared ideas.

Stopping Bullying

1. Define bullying

2. Bullying in the workplace – underlying bullying

3. Target is seen as someone “Different”

4. Bullies hide their negativity to other people

5. What you can do if your child is being bullied

• Listen and believe.
• Empathize regarding how painful this feels.
• Reinforce that this is not your child’s fault,
• Share a story about a time when you or someone close to you was bullied.
• Let your child know that bullying cannot usually be stopped by the person on the receiving end. .
• Find a “safe person” – adult at school
• Promptly talk with your child’s teacher and other school officials. (senior manager at work intervene)
• Be an “upstander,” not a bystander: confront the behavior.
• If you don’t feel safe confronting the bully, talk with others whom you respect and work together on an intervention plan.

6. If you or your child engage in bullying behavior:

• Take responsibility
• The National Domestic Violence Hotline, a great source of help, is available 24/7/365 at 800-799-7233.