The new school year begins soon and thousands of students will be at the desks. Some to continue to the next grade and others again, for the first time in a school or at some educational level. The return to schools in September is not only a concern for children and parents in terms of academic progress and the educational process, but there is certainly concern about other issues that students may face. One of them is school violence and delinquency, a phenomenon that unfortunately records increasing trends, causes concern and several problems in the proper functioning of schools but also "forces" those in charge to implement policies and measures to deal with it.
Especially with the issue of school bullying, the now well-known bullying, a part of the School Guide for Parents and Primary Education Students deals with it, in which the Directorate of Primary Education of the Ministry of Education explains and includes a lot of useful information and issues. In addition to general information on the subject, the Guide also provides advice to parents and guardians of children on what to do if they find out that their child is a victim of bullying or a perpetrator or even an observer in such delinquent incidents.
As mentioned, the phenomenon of school bullying is a social phenomenon, which refers to the repeated, targeted and intentional aggressive behaviour by a student or group of students towards a person or group of students that is done with the aim of causing physical or psychological pain. No child deserves and should not be a victim of violence at school. Violence, marginalisation, exclusion or discrimination hurt victims, have serious consequences for the entire school community and undermine the functioning of the school.
It is also recognized that in order to break the silence of the child victims and to limit the phenomenon, proper information is needed. Also, through this information, there will be the early detection of incidents and, by extension, the immediate support of children (victims and perpetrators). In addition, the School Guide also refers to the need to empower every observer so that when he witnesses such incidents he does not remain silent, does not watch awkwardly or indifferently, but has an active role: To stop the perpetrators, if he can, or to remove the victim or to support him or to report the incident to other adults so that they can take over its management.
Advice to parents whose child experiences bullying:
1. Watch for changes in the child's behaviour and attitude. Possible indications are as follows:
They may have reluctance to go to school or physical symptoms, such as headache, stomach ache and sleep disturbances.
They show serious fluctuations in their mood.
Their school performance decreases.
They seem to have no friends.
Their communication skills are affected.
They become aggressive, irrational, restless.
They may experience anorexia or bulimia.
2. Listen carefully and get a clear understanding of the incidents (space, time, duration, repetition, spectators, description of the incidents).
3. Exculpate the child and reward him for the revelation. Usually a child is afraid of not being understood and blamed.
4. Explain to him that no one has the right to treat him like this.
5. Believe it when he confides in you that he was bullied at school.
6. Ask him to tell you if he has tried to deal with the problem in some way, but without blaming him if he has not tried. Explore other ways to deal with it together.
7. Don't ask him to do "the same" to the other child.
8. Encourage him to report the incident to a teacher.
9. Explain the difference between "betraying/denouncing" and"I ask for help".
10. Contact your child's responsible teacher.
11. Prepare your child to deal with bullying, if they can, in ways such as:
They show serious fluctuations in their mood.
Their school performance decreases.
They seem to have no friends.
Their communication skills are affected.
They become aggressive, irrational, restless.
They may experience anorexia or bulimia.
2. Listen carefully and get a clear understanding of the incidents (space, time, duration, repetition, spectators, description of the incidents).
3. Exculpate the child and reward him for the revelation. Usually a child is afraid of not being understood and blamed.
4. Explain to him that no one has the right to treat him like this.
5. Believe it when he confides in you that he was bullied at school.
6. Ask him to tell you if he has tried to deal with the problem in some way, but without blaming him if he has not tried. Explore other ways to deal with it together.
7. Don't ask him to do "the same" to the other child.
8. Encourage him to report the incident to a teacher.
9. Explain the difference between "betraying/denouncing" and"I ask for help".
10. Contact your child's responsible teacher.
11. Prepare your child to deal with bullying, if they can, in ways such as:
To react verbally, saying: "I don't like what you said or did" or "you can say whatever you want, but it's not true".
To move away from the perpetrator.
To use humour.
12. Practice with your child so that, if he can, he gives short stupefying answers (funny, not hostile).
13. Remind your child to use body language, which will give him more confidence (standing, open straight shoulders, maintaining eye contact).
14. Encourage him to use the first person in his conversations and to be assertive.
15. Encourage the child to think positively about himself, in order to strengthen his self-esteem, to be in places where there are adults as paedophiles, to move around with other children.
16. Help your child develop their social skills.
17. Promote positive social relationships and activities: Help him make friends, inside and outside of school, find activities that your child enjoys and does successfully.
18. Provide young children with picture books on the subject of school bullying.
Advice to parents whose child exhibits bullying behaviour:
1. Listen to the child carefully.
2. Help him realize that his behaviour has repercussions, both for himself and for others.
3. Do not use violence as a punishment for the child's aggressive behaviours. Prefer the removal of privileges.
4. Explain alternative communication techniques that do not involve violence (e.g., anger management, claiming in a polite way).
5. Praise and reinforce your child whenever he demonstrates cooperative and friendly relationships with other children.
6. Ask him about his experiences at school (friends, games, if he is bullied or if others force him to bully).
7. Investigate what he is trying to achieve through the bullying behaviour.
8. Work with the school to find common ways to deal with the child's behaviour.
Advice to parents whose child is a spectator of an incident of bullying behaviour:
1. Listen carefully to your child and reward him for reporting the incident of school bullying.
2. Talk to your child about how his passive attitude affects: The child who is being victimized and the child who is being bullied.
3. Encourage the child:
Report the incident to an adult.
To support the child who is being bullied, defending him, without acting vindictively and without the use of violence.
To disapprove of the abuser without endangering himself.
To use humour.
12. Practice with your child so that, if he can, he gives short stupefying answers (funny, not hostile).
13. Remind your child to use body language, which will give him more confidence (standing, open straight shoulders, maintaining eye contact).
14. Encourage him to use the first person in his conversations and to be assertive.
15. Encourage the child to think positively about himself, in order to strengthen his self-esteem, to be in places where there are adults as paedophiles, to move around with other children.
16. Help your child develop their social skills.
17. Promote positive social relationships and activities: Help him make friends, inside and outside of school, find activities that your child enjoys and does successfully.
18. Provide young children with picture books on the subject of school bullying.
Advice to parents whose child exhibits bullying behaviour:
1. Listen to the child carefully.
2. Help him realize that his behaviour has repercussions, both for himself and for others.
3. Do not use violence as a punishment for the child's aggressive behaviours. Prefer the removal of privileges.
4. Explain alternative communication techniques that do not involve violence (e.g., anger management, claiming in a polite way).
5. Praise and reinforce your child whenever he demonstrates cooperative and friendly relationships with other children.
6. Ask him about his experiences at school (friends, games, if he is bullied or if others force him to bully).
7. Investigate what he is trying to achieve through the bullying behaviour.
8. Work with the school to find common ways to deal with the child's behaviour.
Advice to parents whose child is a spectator of an incident of bullying behaviour:
1. Listen carefully to your child and reward him for reporting the incident of school bullying.
2. Talk to your child about how his passive attitude affects: The child who is being victimized and the child who is being bullied.
3. Encourage the child:
Report the incident to an adult.
To support the child who is being bullied, defending him, without acting vindictively and without the use of violence.
To disapprove of the abuser without endangering himself.
