Bullying is an epidemic. It is a problem existing everywhere – at home, in the workplace, on the internet, and more. In schools, particularly, bullying is very much rampant. It is a significant and pervasive problem that has been affecting hundreds and thousands of children worldwide. In the United States, for example, more than 160,000 children are being affected by bullying each year. Of this number, about 64% is unreported. Because of this, it is important that we make it a point to eradicate, or at least reduce, the persistence of bullying, especially in the academe. To do this, here are five ways to help decrease bullying in schools:

Teaching children about the negative effects of bullying

In addressing the issue of bullying in schools, it is important that we first make children understand what bullying is and why it is absolutely wrong. There are many reasons why bullying is wrong. It has numerous negative effects that are often long-lasting and deep-seated. For one, bullying greatly affects the physical and psychological health of its victims. It leads to such problems as injuries, chronic pain, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, and even suicide. Teaching children about these negative effects of bullying can encourage them to veer away from engaging in it.

There are several ways that we can teach children about bullying. We can conduct regular discussions on raising awareness against bullying in which children can actively participate. We can also require the use of anti-bullying reading materials in classes. There are quite plenty of books about bullying out there. Lydia Greico’s Because It’s Wrong: Bullies vs. Nazis, for example, is a great anti-bullying literary work that teaches us how to recognize the patterns of bullying, and how we can eradicate it as a society.

Rewarding good behavior

Not many people choose to reward good behavior because good behavior is already expected. It is as if good behavior is something of a bare minimum that no longer needs rewarding. However, this notion can be problematic, especially when we are talking about child development. According to behavioral psychology, giving people something whenever they perform a desired action or behavior will lead them to do that certain action or behavior more often because of the reward. This is called positive reinforcement. Here, reward is the reinforcing stimulus.

When children are always rewarded whenever they manifest good behavior, they are most likely to continue behaving good instead of getting in trouble. Acknowledging and pointing out the goodness of positive behavior reinforces it. Now, by incorporating positive reinforcement in dealing with bullies, we are shying away from using punishing methods that may even be counterproductive. We are also giving children clearer expectations about what we want in a positive way.

Learning the warning signs

Bullying is rampant. Sometimes it occurs in plain sight, sometimes discreetly. When bullying happens in a subtle manner, it becomes difficult to stop. For this reason, it is important that we learn about the warning signs. When children are being bullied, they may manifest some changes in their physical body or behavior. These changes may be warning signs that point to a bullying problem.

The common warning signs of bullying include unexplainable injuries, frequent headaches or stomachaches, changes in eating habit, difficulty sleeping, declining grades, loss of interest in school, loss of interest in social life, and decreased self-esteem. When these signs become apparent in children, it is important that we start communicating with them.

Facilitating open communication

To establish a good rapport with children, we should have open communication with them. Open communication allows us to understand children better, and it also makes children more comfortable to talk to us about their problems including bullying.

To facilitate open communication with children, however, we should first learn how to listen empathically. This means that we should let children feel that they are truly being listened to, and not just allowed to speak for the sake of having the conversation. We must create an environment where children would feel welcome to talk to us one-on-one without hesitations and fear of being punished, embarrassed, or neglected. Especially when it comes to the issue of bullying, we must make it a point to let children know and feel that they are being heard.

Empowering children

Last but not the least, empowering children is an effective and necessary way to prevent bullying from further happening. Bullying mostly victimizes weak and vulnerable children. Bullies often target those who are smaller, weaker, and less powerful than them. In essence, bullying is a manifestation of power-trip – strong people prey on the weak ones to increase their sense of power.

To decrease bullying in schools and elsewhere, it is important that we empower children. We must give them the tools for dealing with bullies like walking away, speaking up, and fighting back. We should also teach our children to report bullying whenever they witness it happening to someone else. All in all, we must mold children into tough and responsible individuals who stand up against bullying instead of turning a blind eye to it.