Try to explain that bullying is behaving in a way that upsets someone and that this can affect other children so badly that they don't want to go to school.
If the bullying involves physical abuse like hitting or kicking, recall a time when your child was upset because they were hurt and explain that this is how someone else feels when they are attacked.
Ask your child how he/she would feel if someone was behaving like this to him/her and what he/she would want to have done about it.
How to deal with a complaint about a younger child
- Tell your child calmly what they are accused of and ask for an explanation
- Ask the head teacher if your child is the only one accused of bullying
- Ask the head teacher what strategy he/she can introduce to deal with the problem
- Explain to the child that if he/she calls people names, deliberately hurts them or takes their friends away this is bullying and not fun
- Ask if supervision can be stepped up at the time the bullying is said to be happening
- Ask to be kept informed of further complaints or behaviour problems
Questions you can ask a younger child
- Who are your child's friends and what does he/she like about them?
- What does your child think about the bullying victim?
- Is your child is afraid of anyone else? There is often a ringleader and children go along with him/her because they are afraid they may be the next target if they don't
- Has he/she dropped old friends and got new ones?
- What games do they play at school and who decides who can join in?
- Could your child be upset because of a change in family circumstances, separation, bereavement, a new baby?
- If your child being bullied as well?