As parents, we want our children to be happy, confident, and successful in life. Unfortunately, bullying is a reality for many kids, and it can be difficult for gentle and timid children to stand up for themselves. Recently my son faced an incident in school where he came back home with a bruise on his leg after being kicked by a classmate and tripped by another.

To be candid, the possibility of my son being harmed or bullied by a friend or classmate was a concern that weighed heavily on my mind. Unfortunately, it came to pass sooner than I anticipated, and while we took it as an opportunity to work with the school and teachers to address these issues, we also came to the realization that we need to take proactive steps as a family to empower and protect him

I recently shared my experience on my Instagram stories and received an outpouring of support from mothers who opened up to me about their own struggles with similar matters. Many expressed their fears of their children facing similar situations and were grateful for the opportunity to share tips and advice on raising confident and resilient kids.

In this blog post today, I will be sharing some of the strategies we have implemented at home to help our child cope with these challenges. Additionally, I will also be sharing valuable insights and recommendations from other mothers who have gone through similar experiences and have raised or raisng successfully confident and gentle kids.

Here are some of the things that parents can do to help their kids develop the skills and confidence they need to deal with bullies and other challenging situations. These are based of my understanding and experience and I am not an expert in child psycology. However these are some of key tips I like to include that have been helping my 6 year old.

1. Encourage self-expression. Children who are comfortable expressing themselves are less likely to be bullied. Encourage your child to speak up and express their thoughts and feelings, and listen carefully when they do. If they are shy, try to create a supportive and non-judgmental environment where they feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and opinions. (After our son was hurt by his friends, he did complain to his teacher and also asked for an apology from them in front of the entire class. Personally I was very proud of him for standing up for himself and using his voice.)
2. Teach assertiveness skills. Assertiveness is the ability to stand up for oneself and communicate one’s needs and opinions in an appropriate and confident manner. Teach your child how to be assertive by modeling assertiveness yourself and providing opportunities for them to practice. For example, you could role-play situations where they need to stand up for themselves or assert their rights.
3. Build self-esteem. Children who feel good about themselves are less likely to be bullied and more likely to stand up for themselves. Help your child build their self-esteem by praising their strengths and accomplishments, and encouraging them to try new things and take risks.(The Self-Esteem Workbook for Kids: Activities to Help Children Build Confidence and Achieve Success” by Lisa M. Schab and Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell are some great books to check our for teens and elementarty kids.)
4. Teach conflict resolution skills. Conflict is a natural part of life, and children need to learn how to handle it in a healthy and productive way. Teach your child how to resolve conflicts by compromising, listening to others, and finding mutually acceptable solutions. We often role play at home and ask our son how he would act in a particular situations and help see his POV too.Talk about bullying: Open up a dialogue with your child about bullying and what they can do to protect themselves. Discuss different scenarios and role play to help them develop their own responses.
5. Be a good role model. Children learn by example, so be a good role model by demonstrating assertiveness, self-confidence, and respect for others. Show your child how to handle difficult situations with grace and poise, and help them understand that it’s okay to walk away from a situation if it becomes too uncomfortable.
6. Support and empower your child. Let your child know that they can always come to you for support and guidance, and that you believe in them. Empower your child by encouraging them to make their own decisions and stand up for themselves. One of the most important quality I stress on as a mom.
7. Practice self-defense techniques: Consider enrolling your child in a self-defense class or teaching them some basic techniques for protecting themselves in emergency situations. We are enrolling our son to a martial arts camp for spring.
8. Foster independence: Encourage your child to be self-reliant and to solve problems on their own. This will build their confidence and help them to become more resilient.
9. Promote positive body image: Help your child to develop a positive self-image and to be proud of who they are. This will help them to feel good about themselves and to resist negative influences. One of the biggest conversations in the homes of people of color. Whether it is skin color, hair or the way they look we have to foster positive mindset daily and practce what we preach in front of our kids.
10. Encourage positive relationships: Teach your child how to build and maintain healthy relationships with others. Encourage them to surround themselves with friends who are positive and supportive. This is something we need to continue working on as our children grow and their friend circle changes and matures over time.
11. Seek outside support: If your child is being bullied, consider seeking outside support from teachers, counselors, or a child psychologist. They can provide additional strategies and resources to help your child feel safe and supported.

In conclusion, as a parent, it is important to help your child build their self-esteem and confidence so that they can stand up for themselves and handle difficult situations with ease. I hope by implementing the tips and resources shared in this blog post, we can provide a strong foundation for our children to thrive and succeed in life.

Remember that every child is unique, so be patient and supportive as they grow and develop their own sense of self-worth. And above all, let them know that they are loved, valued, and capable of overcoming any challenges that come their way.

Love

Arushi

PS: My DMs are open to discuss more. Feel free to connect with me on my Instagram.