It is important to reassure the child that if you meet with the school it will be handled so there are no repercussions.
Parents are often reluctant to report bullying to school officials, but bullying may not stop without the help of adults. Keep your emotions in check. Give factual information about your child's experience of being bullied. Include information about who was involved, what, when, where, and how the bullying happened. Emphasize that you want to work with the staff at school to find a solution to stop the bullying, for the sake of your child as well as other students.
Do not contact the parents of the student(s) who bullied your child. This is usually a parent's first response, but sometimes it makes matters worse. School officials should contact the parents of the child or children who did the bullying.
Expect the bullying to stop. Talk regularly with your child and with school staff to see whether the bullying has stopped. If the bullying persists, contact school authorities again.
When should law enforcement become involved? Consider involving the police if another child has physically assaulted your child or is seriously threatening him or her with bodily injury. If the problem persists or escalates and your school officials are unable to stop the bullying, you may want to consult an attorney. Ask the school to keep a written record of all offenses committed against your child in case law enforcement officials need the information for further complaints.
This material was organized by Shiryl Pritts, Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the Windber Research Institute. It was resourced from Take a Stand, Lend a Hand Stop Bullying Now! U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration campaign on bullying awareness. (http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov)
Tips for Parents