Bullying how can we help

Evidence-based SEL approaches have been shown to deliver cost-effective, solid results. Numerous meta-analyses , research reviews , and individual studies of hundreds of thousands of K students show that SEL improves emotional well-being, self-regulation, classroom relationships, and kind and helpful behavior among students. It reduces a range of problems like anxiety, emotional distress, and depression; reduces disruptive behaviors like conflicts, aggression, bullying, anger, and hostile attribution bias ; and it improves academic achievement, creativity, and leadership.

A study of 36 first-grade teachers showed that when teachers were more emotionally supportive of students, children were less aggressive and had greater behavioral self-control, compared to the use of behavior management, which did not improve student self-control. One meta-analysis showed that developing emotional competence was protective against becoming a victim of bullying; social competence and academic performance were protective against becoming a bully; and positive peer interactions were protective against becoming a bully-victim one who has been bullied and bullies others.

A series of longitudinal studies showed positive effects into midlife e. Compared to a matched control group, the children of the adults who participated in the Perry Preschool Project had less criminal involvement and higher educational and employment achievement. Teachers also benefit from SEL. Those with emotional and social skills training have higher job satisfaction and less burnout, show more positive emotions toward their students, manage their classrooms better, and use more strategies that cultivate creativity, choice, and autonomy in their students.

SEL approaches should be developmentally wise , since what is salient and possible for children changes at different ages. For example, preschoolers are expelled from school at the highest rates of all, but the neurological hardware for their self-control is only just developing. Only then are the connections between the emotion circuitry and the more thinking regions of the prefrontal cortex beginning to be myelinated insulated for faster connectivity , something that will take until the mid 20s to complete.

Sometimes, adults confuse normal developmental processes with bullying. For example, children begin to reorganize their friendships midway through elementary school, something that can naturally create hurt feelings and interpersonal conflict.

It should not be misconstrued as bullying, though, which involves intentional, repeated aggression within an imbalance of power. Normal development also includes experimenting with power, and these normal dynamics should be guided safely toward developing a healthy sense of agency, rather than a hurtful exertion of power over someone else.

Finally, the onset of puberty marks the beginning of heightened sensitivity to social relationships, an especially important time to cultivate skills for kinder, gentler relationships. Unfortunately, this is the period when bullying spikes the highest.

Older teens require approaches that are less didactic and leverage their need for autonomy, while affirming their values and search for meaning. Physiologically, the brain changes during puberty confer a second chance for recalibrating their stress regulation system. That opportunity should be constructively seized. Approaches should also take into account individual differences between children. Even SEL programs can stumble here, over-relying on just one or two emotion regulation strategies, like breathing or mindfulness.

But children vary in their temperaments, sensitivities, strengths, and vulnerabilities. The best SEL approaches guide students toward discovering strategies that work best for them—strategies that are emotion- and context-specific, personalized, and culturally responsive.

It can quickly escalate into violence, trouble, and someone getting injured. Instead, it's best to walk away from the situation, hang out with others, and tell an adult. Dealing with bullying can hurt a child's confidence. To help rebuild it, encourage your kids to spend time with friends who have a positive influence. Participation in clubs, sports, or other enjoyable activities builds strength and friendships.

Provide a listening ear about tough situations, but encourage your kids to also tell you about the good parts of their day, and listen attentively. Make sure they know you believe in them and that you'll do what you can to address any bullying. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. When Is it Bullying? Why Do Kids Bully? What Are the Signs of Bullying?

But there are some warning signs. Parents might notice kids: acting differently or seeming anxious not eating, not sleeping well, or not doing the things they usually enjoy seem moodier or more easily upset than usual avoiding certain situations like taking the bus to school If you suspect bullying but your child is reluctant to open up, find ways to bring up the issue. What Can Parents Do? Advice for Kids Parents can help kids learn how to deal with bullying if it happens.

Here are some other ways kids can improve the situation and feel better: Avoid the bully and use the buddy system. Use a different bathroom if a bully is nearby and don't go to your locker if nobody else is around. Make sure you have someone with you so that you're not alone with the bully.

Buddy up with a friend on the bus, in the hallways, or at recess — wherever the bully is. Offer to do the same for a friend. Hold the anger. It's natural to get upset by the bully, but that's what bullies thrive on. It makes them feel more powerful. Practice not reacting by crying or looking red or upset. It takes a lot of practice, but it's a useful skill for keeping off of a bully's radar.

Sometimes kids find it useful to practice "cool down" strategies such as counting to 10, writing down their angry words, taking deep breaths, or walking away. Sometimes the best thing to do is to teach kids to keep their face calm until they are clear of any danger smiling or laughing may provoke the bully.

Act brave, walk away, and ignore the bully. Firmly and clearly tell the bully to stop, then walk away. Practice ways to ignore the hurtful remarks, like acting uninterested or texting someone on your cellphone. Chances are that one out of every five has been bullied.

As an educator, what can you do about it? According to the National Center of Education, as of more than 20 percent of students reported being bullied.

Targeted children often suffer from poor performance in school, sleep issues, anxiety, and depression. As an educator, what can do you to make an impact?

How can you create a classroom climate that prevents bullying, but also put interventions in place that stop the behavior in its beginning stages? We talked to experts in education and mental health counseling to come up with these six strategies.

From the earliest ages, students should participate in activities that boost social-emotional learning. To do this requires empathy and kindness, two skills that educators like Susan Patterson , who leads a cyberbullying course at Lesley University, believe can be taught. One way to do this is to have kids get together and talk about their differences.

Allow them to practice conflict resolution, work through problems, and build their understanding of those around them. Fostering a sense of community in your classroom can lower bullying incidents and facilitate healing for targeted students. Studies also indicate that teaching students to speak up when they witness bullying behavior, and to take a stand against it, can reduce future bullying situations by more than 50 percent. In the classroom, start by creating a safe place for students to express themselves and feel heard.

Outside of the classroom, facilitate opportunities for positive reinforcement by helping students get involved in afterschool activities that align with their hobbies and interests. Researchers have found that small behaviors can often signal the beginning patterns of bullying.

As an educator, here are some of the key behaviors you should take notice of:. While these behaviors may not be classified as bullying, putting interventions in place now could mitigate the likelihood of them growing into something more problematic.

The arts can be a powerful tool for helping young people see situations from different perspectives. Using drama, literature, and the visual arts as a vehicle for conversation, educators can help students understand the negative impact of bullying.