What do I tell my kid? If it's not too awful and true, tell them to own it. If not, tell them to politely ask that the bully stop, and if the bully does or says anything after the request, ignore it. If they have clearly requested the behavior to stop 3 times and it hasn't stopped(unless it's physical), tell your child to tell the teacher. If the teacher doesn't stop the bullying, the parent should get involved. After you get involved: If the behavior doesn't stop, tell the principal. If the school has a policy, make sure it is being followed. Everything needs to be in writing once it goes to the principal. Consider involving the police at any point depending on how the bully reacts and the bully's parents' too (you can request a restraining order). If the principal does not work to stop the bullying, escalate the issue to the school district and definitely involve the police at this point. The request to the district must be in writing. If there is no resolution within 30 days, write to the state board of education. Keep dates and a timeline of all requests and responses because the district must follow their responsiveness guidelines. Remember, you need to figure out if the bully and/or the bully's parents are a serious threat to your child and/or your family. (Gangs, connections, money). Sometimes, the best course of action is pulling the child from the school and sometimes even moving away.
Deal With a Bully in Elementary School
Updated: Jan 5
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