For kids, bullying, like any harmful or self-harming behavior, is a way to deal with emotions that they don’t know how to manage or talk about. Here are some of the reasons kids bully:
- feelings of sadness or anger
- copying behaviors they see at home
- peer pressure
- harsh discipline at home or overly permissive parenting
- low self-esteem (making someone else feel bad so you can feel better about yourself for a few minutes)
If your child might be bullying others, first collect the facts from the school or other parents, then sit down with your child and ask what happened. Be a good listener! Make sure your kids know you still love them and you’re not giving up on them. Set clear consequences for bullying behavior, such as limiting screen time or activities.