Effective Strategies for Teachers to Prevent and Address Bullying in the Classroom
Role Models
Role Models is an impact driven education provider. We focus on Life Skills that help young people to thrive.
Bullying is a topic that strikes fear in the heart of many parents and teachers. When children are little, we are there for their every moment and are ready to step in when a child won’t share a breadstick or pushes them in the ball-pit at soft play.
However, as our children get older, part of our role as parents is to provide them with the tools and teaching them the skills necessary to thrive without us by their side.
According to the NSPCC, bullying is ‘behaviour that hurts someone else. It can include name calling, hitting, pushing, spreading rumours, threatening, or undermining someone’.?
Bullying can present in a variety of ways and situations, including physical, verbal, relational, cyber, sexual, and prejudicial bullying.
As professionals in the field of character education, it is our responsibility to equip children with the skills to navigate bullying. Encouraging an open and communicative relationship with children is essential. According to Childline, you should be available to talk about children’s worries and make sure they know where they can go to for support. Make sure this time is dedicated to them and is free from any distractions.
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It is important not to assume that a child will feel comfortable talking to you about being bullied. There may be a tremendous amount of shame surrounding what they are experiencing. Try to pay attention to warning signs such as loss of appetite, avoiding social situations, loss of personal items, unexplained injuries, and general changes in behaviour and attitude.
Every school must have measures in place to prevent all forms of bullying. According to Prevent, ‘reporting bullying is an effective way to stop the violence’. It is also important to remain calm and seek the help of a professional if a child is experiencing any mental health concerns.
At Role Models, we are passionate about giving children the skills necessary to cope with challenging situations. Discussing with a child about how they would handle a situation in which they felt they were being bullied is important. Encouraging a child to keep a diary is also a useful tool that will help them process and understand their feelings.
In conclusion, it is crucial that we, as professionals in the field of character education, support children in navigating the complexities of growing up. Teaching them how to be resilient, how to communicate their feelings, and how to respect their own boundaries are topics that we should all be passionate about.