Anti Bullying Week - November 2020

In the spirit of this year’s ‘Anti-Bullying week’ theme, ‘United Against Bullying’, we are here to share our top tips and insight on how working together can prevent bullying and help young people to feel safe and comfortable in their environment.

Recently ‘A’s’ Mum was worried that boys he had fallen out with at school were targeting him when he was playing on his Xbox. She shared with the One-Eighty intervention team that it didn’t seem fair for him to miss out on playing when it was his way of relieving stress after school, but he was too frightened to share the boys’ names in case things got worse.

We encouraged A’s Mum to speak to his school, who arranged an assembly and further support for ‘A’s’ class. Along with his friends, ‘A’ then formed a safe group to play with on the Xbox, with parents coming on board to agree the times they would be online to play together and what they could do if disagreements happened. ‘A’ reports feeling much happier and more relaxed knowing he could play with his friends, without the worry of being teased or left out.

Our main tip for parents when your child plays games online is to establish a routine of checking in and showing interest in who your child is talking to. You should be able to recognise voices and screen names; if they are part of your everyday conversation, your child will be more comfortable about sharing with you if something goes wrong.

Although online safety is a growing concern, we know that our children and young people can be vulnerable in any environment.

On the flip side, what if your’re worried that your child is becoming a bully?

Whatever role a child has in peer conflict, the main thing is to ensure that they have a safe, non-judgemental space to share their feelings. Often, children who bully others lack confidence. Just like other unwanted behaviours, their bullying is a way for them to express their own difficulties. Working together with your child and the other supportive adults in their network is a great step to ensuring their needs are met and they feel safe to be themselves.

Top tip - if your child struggles to discuss their own situation, why not try asking them for the advice they would give to a friend?

This takes the pressure off admitting their own struggles and encourages them to think outside the box for solutions.

Check out our social media pages for more anti-bullying information and advice this week!