What specific traits do kids who handle bullying better possess? Low self-esteem, poor social skills, inability to make friends, and lack of assertiveness are characteristics kids who experience bullying at school possess.  So, is your child being bullied at school?  Research says that kids who are assertive, possess self-esteem, demonstrate strong social skills, and get along easily with others are far less likely to be targets of bullies.  

Bullying is a common problem in school and can cause lasting psychological and sometimes physical damage to other kids. As a parent, whether your child is being bullied or not, helping your kids develop these traits is crucial to make them handle bullying and be less target to bullies. 

Here are four traits you must instil in your child to better handle bullying situations at school.

Teach Assertiveness

One way to help kids be less susceptible to bullies is by teaching them to be assertive. Unlike aggressive behaviour, being assertive is the ability to speak up honestly and respectfully. Let your child understand it is okay to speak against unfair treatment and say No when they do not appreciate or feel comfortable about something. 

Encourage Friendship

Kids who are a loner or do not have friends are more likely to be easy targets for bullies because it is believed that they lack social connection and defence. Encourage your kids to have at least one good friend, making them less likely to be bullied. If they are being bullied, a friend is more likely to intervene on their behalf than another bystander. If you find out that your child is finding it hard to make friends, encourage them to get involved in activities they enjoy. Children are more likely to become friends with people who share common interests. Always bear in mind that healthy friendships guard against bullying. Friendships also have a positive impact on your child’s health and academics too.

Impart Self-Esteem

Kids with positive self-esteem feel confident and are better poised to handle bullying at school. One of the best things you can do as a parent is to be intentional about building your child’s self-esteem. One practical way of helping kids develop solid self-esteem is by showing them unconditional love; this breeds a feeling of confidence and self-worth in them. Also, encouraging them to engage in extracurricular activities where they can easily comix with other kids, play games and play games together will boost their confidence level.

Teach Social Skills

If you do not want your kids to be an easy target for bullies, start teaching them social skills. Help your child become comfortable with talking to people and initiating conversations. This will help them build interpersonal relationships and prevent them from being socially isolated. Kids who are socially isolated are an easy target for bullies 

If you think your child is being bullied, it is crucial to take the necessary action by reaching out to the school authority to know what measures and policies they have to curb bullying. More importantly, also help your child develop the necessary social and emotional skills to comix and make friends easily. Eventually, they will feel more relaxed and confident in dealing with bullying. 

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