If your child is being bullied, they need to know that they are being heard, that their feelings matter and that their issue will be investigated respectfully.
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Bullying should be taken seriously.
Listen calmly and get the full story
Your calm response is important to allow your child to tell you all about the situation.
After they've told you their story, ask questions to get more details if necessary.
Although you may feel some strong emotions about your child's experience, try to keep calm to avoid more distress to your child.
Reassure your child they are not to blame
Many children blame themselves and this may make them feel even worse.
You could say things like, 'That sounds really hard to deal with. No one should have to put up with that.' or 'I'm so glad you told me. You should be able to feel safe at school; that's not fair at all'.
Ask your child what they want to do and what they want you to do
A critical part of your response is to avoid jumping in to solve the problem.
While it is natural to want to protect your child, helping them to find their own solution is a better option.
It helps them feel they have some power in the situation.
Contact the school
Your child may be reluctant for you to do this, so discuss the idea and reassure them that the school would want to know and is able to help.
More details: www.bullyingnoway.gov.au
