My Child’s Being Bullied; What Do I Do?

Something’s going on at school.

Your child arrives home irritable and emotional. They’re showing signs of extreme anxiety before leaving for the day, sometimes even feigning sick. They might be withdrawn and quiet, unwilling to open up about what’s happening.

Whether another student is posting mean things on your child’s social media, or verbally/physically abusing your child at school, bullying is upsetting and scary for both the parent and child.

We know navigating this exceedingly difficult and complex circumstance can feel overwhelming—here are eight steps to get you started.

1. Care for your child

First and foremost, take care of your child’s needs. Listening and creating a safe space for your child to express their feelings will help give them the courage to fully share what’s happening.

As you go through the remaining steps, make sure you always return to this one.

2.?Get the facts

With patience and understanding, ask your child to share what’s going on. Once you have specific details, reach out to others who might’ve witnessed it or heard about it. You want to know who’s involved as well as where and when it took place.

3.?Document everything

Gather any documents that show the bullying. You can save emails, texts and voicemails. You can also take screenshots on social media. Then, be sure to write down all the details of what happened and create a timeline of events.

4.?Review the school’s anti-bullying policy

Check the student handbook for its anti-bullying policy—this should outline how to report the bullying to the school. Be sure to look at your state’s law as well. It may outline additional rights, including a time limit for when the school should take action.

5.?Report the bullying to the school

Ask to meet with the principal and any other staff members that should be included. Inquire about whether they’ve witnessed anything (whether at school or online), share your child’s story, and come equipped with your supporting documents. Lastly, follow up with a summary of your discussion in writing.

6.?Monitor the school’s response

Request that the school send you written updates. If the bullying persists, document new incidents, inform the school, and keep them accountable for next steps.

7.?Escalate the issue to higher authorities

If your child continues to be bullied, contact the school district superintendent and/or the local school board for help. Share the complete time line of events, including your child’s story, every discussion you’ve had with the school (as well as all staff members involved), and measures they took to respond.

8.?Get legal help

Finally, if the issue isn’t resolved, reach out to an attorney. An attorney can represent you and your child in school and administrative hearings, juvenile court proceedings, and parental responsibility matters.

On this first day of National Bullying Prevention Month, we encourage everyone to remember that protecting children isn’t just the responsibility of parents and teachers—but the entire community. If you see a child being bullied, please be sure to report it to the appropriate authorities.

If your employer offers MetLife Legal Plans, we can provide an attorney to assist. To learn more, visit https://www.legalplans.com/