Communicating effectively with your children…
It is important to discuss bullying with your children on a regular basis. Regular communication with a person they trust and respect will help them form their own opinions and beliefs about bullying. Your children will also feel more comfortable telling you if they are being bullied. Consider trying some of these ideas to improve the way you talk with your children about tricky issues:
Sit shoulder to shoulder or walk with your child as you talk
Talking face to face can be quite confrontational, particularly for boys. Sitting or walking side by side will encourage both you and your child to talk freely.
Use open-ended questions
It is easy to ask your child if they had a good day or if they would like toast for breakfast; however these questions only require a yes or no answer. Try asking questions such as "What did you do today?" or "What would you like for breakfast?" These types of questions encourage discussion between you and your child.
Talk with your children about what to do rather than what not to do
It is common for us to focus on negative behaviour, such as "don't step in that puddle" or "stop swinging on your chair". Try telling your children what you would like them to do rather than what you don't want them to do. You can do this by using positive statements such as "please step over the puddle" or "please put the chair legs on the floor".
Warwick Norman
FS&F Coordinator
