How to Help Your Child Cope with Bullying

Hearing about your child being bullied is heartbreaking for a parent. You feel the hurt your kid is experiencing so deeply, that it's easy to get upset (maybe you want to say something directly to the bully too!) But one of the best ways we can be supportive is to help our children express how being bullied made them feel—to open that line of communication with us so we can help them process those difficult emotions. Dr. April Duncan, LCSW, RPT, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Play Therapist, shares a few interventions you can do with your child to spark that conversation, and to help them express their feelings in a healthy way. 

Do a "Feelings Heart" Activity Together

By asking your child to identify the feelings they have in their heart and color those in, it allows you to get a better sense of what's going on inside their head—and helps them express their feelings. 

Have Your Child Create an "Anger Pillow"

It is natural for your child to feel angry when they are a victim of bullying. As parents, part of our job is to validate that emotion—and to even share that you are angry too. This activity creates a safe way for your child to process and express their hurt feelings.

Try This "Gratitude Sticks" Exercise With Your Child

Instead of having your child lament what somebody said about them, help them learn how to control their narrative: they can use this Cognitive Behavioral Therapy tool to turn negative thoughts into positive thoughts, reframing something mean that someone said to them.