Parent Playbook 2 Overview

How to Help a Child Stop Bullying Other Kids

A Bullying Resource for Parents & Caring Adults

Children or teens who have been exposed to trauma and violence are more likely to bully others or be bullied.

If a child is either being bullied or exhibiting bullying behaviors, it can be important to also take stock of any past traumas, as strategies to help them can be different.

Positive Coaching Alliance

How to Help a Child Stop Bullying

This resource will explore the following topics in-depth:

  • Identifying bullying
  • Warning signs of bullying
  • Cyberbullying
  • Who is involved with bullying
  • What to do if your child is bullying others
  • Risk factors for bullying
  • Different types of bullying

Resources are available for you

What can I do if my child is bullying others?

This Playbook contains many details to support these 4-steps, such as key points for talking to your child, examples of counterproductive advice, resources for helping your child, tips for speaking with the school and more.
Prepare to talk to your child

It’s important that you feel equipped to have a safe and intentional conversation with your child about how bullying has affected their wellbeing. Our resources can help you prepare for that conversation.

Talk to your child

There is no “perfect time” to talk to your child. It is important to start the conversation in a timely fashion so they can receive support when they need it most.

Work with your child to develop empathy

Bullying behavior can be unlearned, but it won’t be resolved on its own – it requires help from parents and other caring adults. They must learn and understand that their  actions hurt others and how they can improve their behavior. They also need to understand why they are bullying others and how that bullying makes the other person feel.  Developing empathy and compassion are skills that can be developed. We have resources available to support you in this effort.

Work with the school and other supports

Once you’ve talked with your child and understand the situation, develop an action plan together.  Then reach out to their school to share information about your concerns and possible ways to rectify the situation.

Examples of how your child can make amends to the child who was bullied

  • Clean up, repair, or pay for any property they damaged
  • Apologize, either in person or by writing a letter, to the person who was bullied
  • Do a good deed for the person who was bullied or for others in your community
  • Stand up for someone in the future who is being bullied

Students who are both targets of bullying and engage in bullying behaviors are at greater risk for both mental health and behavior problems than students who bully or are only bullied

National Center for Educational Statistics

Actionable Age-Appropriate Resources

We have options for your situation:

  • How types of bullying vary by age
  • Insights into bullying across different gender identities
  • Details on bias-based bullying
  • Identifying cyberbullying
  • Toolkits for addressing cyberbullying
  • Details regarding the bullying ecosystem
  •  4-step action plan if your child is bullying others
  • Recommendations for preparing to speak with the school
  • Counseling resources
  • Important definitions
  • FAQs when involving the school
  • Conversation guides and examples for different age groups
Emergency Services

Call 911

Emergency: 911

Mental Health Crisis

Call 988

Mental Health Crisis: 988