The best way to combat and prevent bullying is to educate yourself. A number of great websites are specifically tailored to aid parents and educators in making informed decisions. For example, the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration has created a site called Stop Bullying Now! There, you can read about best practices in prevention, find the latest research, and discover helpful tips. There is even a child-focused segment of the site where children can learn and interact. The American Academy of Pediatrics has educational pamphlets that you can easily read and share with others.
All but five states have laws on the books mandating schools implement policies to deal with bullying (see References). Although schools should have a comprehensive bullying program in place, though they may use a variety of different prevention and conflict resolution techniques. If your child is the victim of bullying, it is important to contact your school and make the administrators aware of the situation your child is facing.
The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration advocates the implementation of support groups comprised of educators and parents to help prevent and deal with bullying. HRSA also provides educational materials, videos and other resources to aid in community awareness and involvement. At Stop Bullying Now, you can find strategies for helping communities to understand the types of bullying that occur, what specific locations are conducive for bullying, and best practices for prevention. Talk to your school and ask if a group already exists and, if not, consider starting one yourself.
If your child is a bully and you are having trouble correcting his behavior, professional counseling and therapy are available options. Bullying is often a symptom of deeper emotional or social issues. These problems span a wide range of motivations that can include a lack of ability to control anger, poor social skills, and/or an entitlement mentality. These motivations can be difficult to spot, but can be easily diagnosed by a mental health professional.