Bullying – Excerpt from Chapter 3 – Foundations of Discord to Foundations of Healing

A person with a healthy self image and strong personal character will, for the most part, be unaffected by bullying. In the case of children however, they are more susceptible to bullying if they have not been given a strong foundation in self esteem and personal character. This foundation must come from the family and in particular the parents. Positive parental involvement in a child’s life from start to finish is the key to building that healthy self esteem and strong character. Do not leave the development of your child’s self image to themselves, their friends and teachers. Do not wait until your child is school age to get involved in cultivating healthy self esteem. While it is never too late to make a difference, it is best to be involved, supportive and a source of encouragement from the beginning. A child’s communication skills begin in early childhood and they continue learning and growing by observing communication between their parents, siblings, relatives and family friends. Later we will discuss healthy parenting in more detail, but for now, if you are a parent be mindful of your child’s behavior and if you sense or suspect, even for a moment, that your child may be at risk, get involved immediately by talking to your child and reinforcing their positive self esteem. Share with them the concepts of character, self esteem and personal responsibility.