Standing up against bullies

17/01/2021

min read

As a parent or guardian, you might be wondering what you can do to help fight bullying. We all know that standing up against bullies can sound pretty scary to kids, but encouraging them to do it can help them in so many ways. Not only does it help them develop their own self-esteem and resilience, it helps them resist negative appearance pressures, too.

Standing up against bullies – will it help?

When your child sees someone being teased or bullied about their appearance, they might think that the best thing to do is to stay quiet. This could be because they are scared of conflict, or becoming a target themselves, but by doing nothing and allowing the bully’s nasty behavior to continue, it makes them a ‘bully bystander’. Being a ‘bully bystander’ can have a detrimental impact on not only the victim, but also the bully and the bystanders. Doing or saying nothing, helps to reinforce the behavior of the bully and teach kids that bullying based on appearance is okay.

Should I encourage my child to stand up against bullying?

Research shows that in most instances, kids who witness bullying can successfully intervene, and reduce bullying behavior1. Intervening doesn’t just include confronting the bully, which can sometimes feel scary, intimidating or unsafe. Kids can also play a role in stopping bullying by telling a teacher or trusted adult, comforting the victim, or inviting the victim to play with them. All of us seek connection and belonging, and 'fitting in’ becomes very important to kids aged 8 and up. If your child can show the victim of bullying that they fit into their group, this can reduce some of the impact of the bullying they’ve experienced.

In standing up against bullying and teasing, your kids can show others the importance of valuing unique personal qualities and diverse appearances. It can also improve their self-esteem, helping them to develop the confidence to speak up. By standing against bullying in these situations, it will empower them with the knowledge that they can make a difference, too.

So, what can you do? Our checklist gives you some of our top tips on how to talk about bullying and what steps you can take to encourage kids when they see appearance-based teasing and bullying:

Parent checklist
1

Encourage them to challenge bullying

Let them know that by standing up to the bully, they are being a hero. They are using their superpower to protect others and show the bully that what they are doing is ‘uncool’ or ‘unkind’
2

Teach them that they can still make a difference afterwards

If they don’t feel comfortable or safe standing up to the bully in the moment, they can still help by talking to the victim or bully, or by telling a parent, teacher or trusted adult
3

Acknowledge that it is not always easy to stand up to bullies

Tell them that challenging bullies makes them very brave and that it will have a huge impact, and they should be very proud of that. Remember to praise effort over achievement and recognise progress
4

Tell them that there are different ways to help

They can be supportive of the victim if they are upset, reminding them about their special qualities. They can also invite them to play, showing the bully that appearance doesn’t matter to games and friendship, and showing the victim that they are worth so much more than how they look
5

Help them identify up to 5 adults they trust

Who could they go to for support if they witnessed someone being teased/bullied, or if they were experiencing it themselves? Get them to make a list