How can we help children who are behaving as bullies, especially when their parents may be reinforcing bullying behavior?
Not all children who behave as bullies are alike. Some are acting from more deep-seated emotional problems, while others are experimenting with limits and/or enjoying the feeling of “power over” others. Some victims may act aggressively and appear to be bullies themselves. Clearly parents need to be informed of their child’s bullying behavior. While they may be in denial or may defend their child, parents respond more positively to a concern for their child than to an accusation or an implied condemnation. Parents also need to understand that the long-term consequences for children behaving as bullies can be very serious. Research shows that about 1/4 of children identified as bullies in elementary school have a criminal record by age 25-30 (depending on the study). Often, parents are defending themselves (and their parenting skills) when they act defensively about their children.
