When you discover your child is being bullied, you may feel a variety of emotions, from anger to fear to sadness. These reactions and emotional responses are natural for parents who want their child to feel valued, protected, and loved. To become an effective advocate for your child, it is important to acknowledge your emotions and then focus on taking action.

Talk with your child

When you first talk with your child about bullying, be prepared to listen without judgment. Provide a safe and supportive place where they can work out their feelings.

Support and empower them

After hearing your child’s story, empower them to create an action plan to help stop the bullying. Talk with them about ways you can support them as well as intervention strategies they can use, such as working with the school or advocating on their own.

Learn your rights

Minnesota has a bullying prevention statute that requires school districts to write a bullying prevention policy and include in their student handbook. Find a copy of your district’s policy and follow the guidance on how to report a bullying incident. You can also ask that your child’s IEP or 504 plan include information on how to prevent or respond to bullying.

Think through who else should be involved

In addition to being supportive and empowering your child to write down a plan, it can be helpful to document the steps that you plan to take or have already implemented. Written records provide a history of incidents and responses, which can be helpful when addressing the issue with school administrators, other professionals, or law enforcement. 

Get involved in the community

Bullying touches many lives, and it might be happening to others in your child’s school or community. You can help by raising awareness through community events, attending workshops or trainings in your community, and sharing information with others.