If your son says he is being bullied, take the bullying information seriously and respond thoughtfully. The effects of bullying can be grave, but bullying can be overcome. Here are some ideas to help you and your son deal with bullies.

When a bully confronts your son, suggest your child do the following:
  • Act confident (even if he isn’t). If the bully believes that your son is confident and that the bullying is not having the desired effect, the bully may give up.
  • Ignore the bully and walk away. Walking away can be very effective. Bullies rarely want to waste time bothering someone who doesn’t react.
  • Be assertive but not aggressive. Speak directly to the bully and tell him to stop bullying. Remind your son that assertiveness is different from aggression. Physical contact is never acceptable, so no punching.
  • Find a friend. Take a friend with him to classes, the bathroom, the lunchroom, and home (if he walks to school). Having a companion will make your son feel safer and more confident if a problem arises.
  • Find a safe person. Find a trusted adult (teacher, counselor, administrator) at school that he can go to if he feels threatened. He should also choose a back-up person in case the go-to person is absent.
Here are some other tactics to protect your son from bullying and help him deal with bullies:
  • Be supportive. Make sure your son knows that you don’t think he has brought the bullying on himself or that the bullying is in any way his fault.
  • Involve dad or another positive male role model. Bullying may make your son feel insecure, but having a man in his life who is interested in his well-being can help build your son’s self-esteem.
  • Keep a log. When bullying occurs, have your son tell you what happened, who was involved, when it happened, and where it happened. Be sure to record every incident and keep a log of all the details.
  • Make an appointment. Meet with his teachers, counselor, and principal (if necessary) to let them know about the bullying. Ask them to let the other teachers know about the situation, so that all teachers can be alert for suspicious behavior from the boys involved. Also find out what the school plans to do to help resolve the issue.
  • Communicate with your son openly and frequently. Ask your son about his day—every day. Ask such questions as Who did you eat lunch with? and Who did you hang out with at recess? Play a game of High-Low at the dinner table. Ask each member of the family to tell the high point and low point of the day. If your son consistently responds with a low point that involves recess, friends, lunch, or “everything,” be on the lookout for possible bullying.
  • Do your homework. Inform yourself about the laws in your state designed to protect children from harassment at school and in the community. You can usually find information online or at your local library.
  • Role play. Practice different types of bullying situations at home and ways your son can respond appropriately to each one. This will help him be more confident if he faces bullies.
  • Arrange play dates. Whether your son is six or sixteen, suggest he invite a friend over. If your son is a teenager, you can take him and his friends to the movies or bowling or have a movie night at your house.
  • Suggest exercise. Sometimes just getting out for a good run or brisk walk will improve your son’s mood. Better yet, join him and talk about something that makes him feel good about himself.
  • Be proactive. If you are looking for a new school, ask questions about bullying such as the following: What is the school’s policy about bullying? What are the statistics about bullying at the school?


Sources:
kidshealth.org
education.com
menshealth.co.uk