Bullying in Schools: Part 3: How to Prevent Bullying Outside of Schools

Posted on May 19, 2016

Our last post addressed bullying prevention strategies and methodologies within schools and in educational environments. However, it’s important to remember that bullying doesn’t occur exclusively on school grounds, and it isn’t something that schools should handle on their own. There are many different types and causes of bullying; thus, it is critical to use multiple approaches^[1] to create effective bullying solutions. Students, parents, and community members should get involved in anti-bullying initiatives, whether the bullying is taking place in or outside of school. When everyone gets involved in bullying prevention^[2], a community creates a much more effective bullying solution.

Teaching Children and Teens to Avoid and Prevent Neighborhood Bullying

• • Teach Kids to Treat Others With Respect: Parents and teachers should instill in younger generations a philosophy of understanding and teach them to treat everyone with respect^[3]. If children are taught to stop and think before they act in a way that could hurt someone, they are less likely to bully others^[4].
• • Talk about Bullying: Children and teens should be encouraged to talk to adults about bullying, and adults should maintain an open door policy so that children know they have someone they can talk to. Speaking to an adult^[5] can prevent a student from feeling alone and help them develop strategies to combat bullying.
• • Educate Children about Cyberbullying: StopBullying.gov^[6] reminds teens that bullying “can happen anywhere, including through texting, the internet, and social media.” Electronics are now fairly ubiquitous in children of all ages, so it’s critical to teach children early what cyberbullying is, what it looks like, and how they can fight back against it. Equip them with strategies to protect themselves against cyberbullying^[7], such as keeping passwords secret from peers and thinking about what they post and who might see it. As an added protection, parents should always monitor what their children are doing online.
• • Remind Students to Be More than a Bystander: Children and teens can be a vital part of stopping bullying by standing up for others. According to Bullying.org^[8], when peers intervene on behalf of a bullying victim, 57% of the time the bully stops within 10 seconds of the intervention.

 

Parents Play a Significant Role in Bullying Prevention

• • Know the Signs: Parents have a lot of power to help their children prevent and stop bullying^[9]. Adults should know the signs of bullying and acknowledge them when they manifest. For more information, see Part 1 of our bullying series, Know the Signs of Bullying.
• • Communication is Key: It is crucial for parents to communicate with their children, especially about bullying and cyberbullying. When these important conversations happen, children are more likely to report bullying to their parents, and they are less likely to become bullies themselves.
• • Listen to the Victim: According to cfchildren.org^[10], most bullying victims do not approach a parent or trusted adult with a bullying problem because they are afraid that the adult will not believe or support them. So if a child reports that they have been bullied, parents should listen and seriously consider their children’s words. They should never blame the victim or suggest that the child instigated the bullying. Ultimately, parents should ensure that home is a safe haven for their children, as noted by GreatSchools.org^[11].
• • If Your Child Bullies: Parents or caregivers of bullies can also help stop bullying^[12]. It may be difficult for a parent to recognize these signs in a child, but proactive action is critical in stopping such negative behavior. If their child is bullying, parents should take several proactive steps, including holding them accountable and investigating potential causes for the bullying.

 

A Community Anti-Bullying Effort

• • Getting Everyone Involved: Because bullying can occur anytime and anyplace, teachers, guidance counselors, health and mental health professionals, police departments, businesses, and others in the community should be invested in anti-bullying initiatives. As more facets of a community become involved, the support system grows stronger and students will be more likely to report bullying issues^[13]. According to the Stop Bullying Now^[14] program, , “[c]ommunity-wide strategies can help identify and support children who are bullied; redirect the behavior of children who bully; and change the attitudes of adults and youth who tolerate bullying behaviors in peer groups, schools and communities.” With school administrators and community leaders spearheading the initiatives, the community can collaborate and educate one another^[15] about the causes and effects of bullying. A common belief is often that bullying is “just a part of growing up,” but a community can foster a culture that dispels this myth.
• • Recognizing Children as Part of the Community: It’s important to keep children and teens involved in community bullying prevention programs^[16] at every stage of planning, implementation, and evaluation. By keeping young people involved in anti-bullying initiatives, adults can get a glimpse into the world of teens and children, thus obtaining a better understanding of what may work to prevent bullying in their community.

 

A Comprehensive Bullying Solution

Even with community involvement, determining the best approach to prevent bullying can be a difficult undertaking. Surveys can anonymously identify perceptions about bullying and give key stakeholders in the schools and community a representative idea of what specific kinds of bullying are happening in their area. This data can help administrators select the program that will be most useful for specific groups of children and teens in the school and in the community.

Overall, it’s clear that efforts to stop bullying must come from all sides^[17]. This may seem like a daunting task, but when individuals and groups across a community get involved, anti-bullying initiatives are much more likely to succeed. By fostering collaboration between children and adults, bullying inside and outside of school can be more effectively combated and prevented.

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[1] “Working in the Community.” StopBullying.gov. Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov/prevention/in-the-community/index.html on April 26, 2016.

[2] “School and Community Prevention and Intervention.” PromotePrevent.org. Retrieved from http://preventingbullying.promoteprevent.org/school-and-community-prevention-and-intervention on April 26, 2016.

[3] “What You Can Do.” StopBullying.gov. Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov/kids/what-you-can-do/index.html on April 26, 2016.

[4] “What You Can Do.” StopBullying.gov. Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov/kids/what-you-can-do/index.html on April 26, 2016.

[5] “What You Can Do.” StopBullying.gov. Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov/kids/what-you-can-do/index.html on April 26, 2016.

[6] “Teens.” StopBullying.gov. Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov/what-you-can-do/teens/index.html on April 26, 2016.

[7] “What You Can Do.” StopBullying.gov. Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov/kids/what-you-can-do/index.html on April 26, 2016.

[8] “Bullying Myths and Facts.” Bullying.org. Retrieved from http://www.bullyingawarenessweek.org/pdf/Bullying.org_Bullying_Myths-Facts.pdf on April 26, 2016.

[9] “Parents.” StopBullying.gov. Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov/what-you-can-do/parents/index.html on April 26, 2016.

[10] “Why Don’t Kids Report Bullying?” Committee for Children. Retrieved from http://www.cfchildren.org/bullying-prevention/related-articles/why-kids-dont-report-bullying on April 26, 2016.

[11] “What Parents Can Do About Childhood Bullying.” GreatSchools.org. Retrieved from http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/what-parents-can-do-about-childhood-bullying/ on April 26, 2016.

[12] “What Parents Can Do About Childhood Bullying.” GreatSchools.org. Retrieved from http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/what-parents-can-do-about-childhood-bullying/ on April 26, 2016.

[13] “Community-Based Bullying Prevention: Tips for Community Members.” Stop Bulling Now! Retrieved from http://www.clayton.k12.ga.us/departments/bullying/Rscs/Community%20Based%20Prevention%20Tips.pdf on April 26, 2016.

[14] “Community-Based Bullying Prevention: Tips for Community Members.” Stop Bulling Now! Retrieved from http://www.clayton.k12.ga.us/departments/bullying/Rscs/Community%20Based%20Prevention%20Tips.pdf on April 26, 2016.

[15] “Community-Based Bullying Prevention: Tips for Community Members.” Stop Bulling Now! Retrieved from http://www.clayton.k12.ga.us/departments/bullying/Rscs/Community%20Based%20Prevention%20Tips.pdf on April 26, 2016.

[16] “Community-Based Bullying Prevention: Tips for Community Members.” Stop Bulling Now! Retrieved from http://www.clayton.k12.ga.us/departments/bullying/Rscs/Community%20Based%20Prevention%20Tips.pdf on April 26, 2016.

[17] “Community-Based Bullying Prevention: Tips for Community Members.” Stop Bulling Now! Retrieved from http://www.clayton.k12.ga.us/departments/bullying/Rscs/Community%20Based%20Prevention%20Tips.pdf on April 26, 2016.