Talking to the Bully's Parent

Talking to another parent about their child is often harder then talking to the school. Obviously if you have established a relationship with the other parent communication is easier, however, more often than not you have never talked to them before.

Just as you love your child, so do they. No matter how angry you are, TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT!

Figure out the best way you can communicate without being confrontational.

First ask them if they have the time to talk about a few incidents that are happening between your child and theirs.

In the conversation, stick to the actions described by your child.

Do not label their child or their actions.

Expect their parents to become emotional, but you need to remain calm.

Look to create an ally not an enemy

If the conversation becomes abusive or incendiary, end the conversation and talk to your school.

The goal of communication is to help the child committing the bully behavior as well as helping your own child.

Talking to the School

As a parent one of the hardest parts of raising childen is when they are outside your sphere of influence. The significant angst and frustration a parent feels when they find out their child is being bullied can be overwhelming. When things are outside your hands one can feel powerless. To be the best advocate for your child you must put yourself in your best frame of mind.

Remember, teachers and school administrators care about your child and want to help. TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT!

Reach out to your child's teacher via email. If you decide to talk to them in person follow up with an email thanking them for their time and summarize the conversation. It is good idea to have documentation of communication.

Your first interaction should focus on articulating to the teacher the information your child has given you as well as gathering additional information on what the teacher thinks is happening. It is hard to tell exactly what is really happening, however, a key component of bullying is it's repetitive nature.

Focus on the reported actions of the bullying child.

Be open to what the teacher has to say about your own child, bullying often is not a black and white issue.

Ask about your school's bully prevention protocols. It's good to understand the resources available to you and your child.