How to save your child from bullying

SYDNEY - Bullying at school may be a common phenomenon, but experts have some tips that can help you protect your loved one.

Psychologists Andrew Fuller and Evelyn Field have noticed a big change in bullying in the past year or two. According to them, schoolyard disputes have become more intense and cyber bullying more merciless, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

And, through their work with children, parents and schools, they have noted more intervention by parents and teachers, which they say is helping children negotiate one of the most frightening aspects of school life.

Field, a psychologist and author of Bully Blocking, Six Secrets To Help Children Deal with Teasing and Bullying (Finch Publishing) agreed that schools have started to act more quickly on incidents of bullying.

Yet she urges parents to teach their children to take on bullies who use verbal taunts by deflecting their insults.

“Children need to look the bully in the eye, stand straight and maintain a neutral look. Bullies can smell fear and that can make children more vulnerable and more likely to be a target,” she said.

Here are some Andrew Fuller’s tips to help children with bullies

1. Make sure your child knows that no matter what happens they can talk to you.

2. Insist on the “nana rule” for online communication - remind them that anything they put online should be what they would be happy to show or say to their nana.

3. Don’t ban the Internet but agree on a plan to manage it. The plan should include when and how long they can use it, and what they can put online.

4. Encourage your child to have a diverse range of friends, including friends out of school. (ANI)