What Measures Should Schools Implement to Prevent Bullying?

By Aditya, Year 6, Perth (Australia)

Is your child getting into trouble? If so, here are a few ideas on how you can stop that. You do want a well-behaved child, don’t you? Well, if yes, here are three ways we can help you.

First, you know what prison is, right? Instead of that for kids, we could make them stay in a room with nothing in it. Think that's too harsh? Well, here's another idea: make every misbehaving child participate in group activities. Want another suggestion? You could make the naughty child write an apology letter. Now, let's dive into the benefits of these methods.

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First of all, if your child is extremely misbehaved, this jail-like situation could make them reflect on all the bad choices they’ve made. It ensures that they won’t want to repeat their mistakes, as they’ll see the consequences and understand that punishment is part of the real world. Just like we have prison for adults, children need to understand that actions like hurting others, even if small, could lead to serious consequences.

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Have you ever considered that your child’s misbehavior might be because they have no friends at school? Here's a surefire way to change that. You can always support socializing by starting the day with a small group game that everyone participates in. This encourages your child to engage with others. Secondly, allowing your child to participate in fun activities builds friendships, improves behavior, and adds exercise to their routine. Who wouldn’t love that? It’s a win-win: they make new friends and get healthier, which could really improve their overall attitude.

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Now, what if your child doesn’t respond to physical punishments or traditional discipline? Here's an idea: let’s say your child has been really mean to another child. You want them to feel guilty enough to avoid repeating their behavior. Make your child write about what they did and how it affected the other person, helping them understand the harm they caused. Then, have them send this letter to the other child. This simple gesture could mean a lot and might lead to forgiveness, helping mend the relationship.

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I hope these suggestions help you and your child become better individuals. I also hope this can assist schools and educators in promoting better behavior.