Teachers’ Toolkit for Handling Sibling Bullying
When I saw that agreeable, friendly child helping his younger brother to pack his backpack, I couldn’t believe that he was a bully to the same brother. But that was what his teacher has told me earlier that morning.
She reported an incident of abuse in which elder child pushed his brother from a swing causing him to break his nose and that that incident was not a standalone event in the history of these boys.
How a young child of kindergarten could purposefully harm his brother and that so repeatedly? That question kept the staff bewildered.
Interestingly, dealing with such children and families starts with answering this same question. Teachers and onlookers need to understand that judging these family dynamics is not going to help these families in any way. In contrast, we need to understand that these events and behaviors are more impulsive than planned.
Step 1: Feel Empathy
And, no, here I am not talking about feeling empathy with the victim only. Bully also need as much empathy and acceptance from teachers as victims do.
The process of intervention in any kind of bullying can only start with acceptance. You have to accept the bully as a child. (There is a difference between accepting the behavior and accepting the person showing the behavior. And this difference is the start of empathy.)
This acceptance, which in turn is pre-requisite for empathy towards a bullying child, comes from understanding the pressure that child was going through. Teachers need to acknowledge that every child has an inert understanding about which behaviors hurt or which ones help. On top of this understanding, children are hardwired to choose good behaviors unless they feel internal or external pressures to choose otherwise.
In most cases of sibling bullying, child feel this pressure because their parents haven’t taught them to navigate through the feelings of jealousy that arise when their siblings join the family. Labeling them as bullies or aggressors only adds to this burden.
When a teacher understands this pressure, they have reason to help the bully not just the victim of bullying.
Step 2: Communicate
Most cases of sibling bullying co-exist with complex family dynamics. In such cases, the teacher should communicate the matter with the school psychologist.
In milder cases, they should communicate with the family, and other teachers of bullies and victims, about this matter to create awareness, clear misunderstandings, and create a common gam plan.
Appreciate the human they, victims and bullies alike, are. Be a little more positive towards the duo. If they want to talk about their emotions, lend a listening ear. Create class activities which talk about family dynamics and bonding with family members.
Educate the whole class about bullying and what they can do to stop sibling bullying.
Step 3: Develop Social Skills
Inclusion and tolerance are a few mindsets that help in eradicating any type of bullying. But if a child has to fight with himself (as is the case with a bully), the emotional intelligence is more crucial than these social mindsets.
Include class activities which focus on building socio-emotional intelligence among students. A few common examples include naming emotions of others and themselves, journaling, and building emotions using positive words or actions.
Wrap Up
Sibling bullying starts at home and its elimination can only happen at hope. That said, teachers and school environment plays an vital role in mitigating the losses and creating awareness around this topic.
If you are witnessing such bullying among your students, step up to bring normalcy within the lives of those affected.
Author Bio:
Syeda Aruba lives in a world that is not away from yours yet full of contentment and self-satisfaction. She believes that she can, and everyone in retrospect, can produce happiness within themselves by knowing the right tools and making a commitment. She is committed to making the world a better place for all to live in. You can read her stories at her blog.

What Expectations Do You Have From The School?
Everyone has different expectations from schools. Some are concerned about quality of education, some have grave concerns on discipline management, others are complaining about high school fee and the list goes on! This article summarizes the feedback from different...

17 Recommendation to Manage Negative Thinking In Kids
Positive and forward thinking is one of the key elements of strong character. However, sometimes, kids' thought processes get impacted due to several external factors such as too much of online games of aggression, poor relationship of parents, stressful home...

Download 32 Points School Ranking Checklist
With so many choices out there, it is not easy to finalize the right school for your kids. With continuous evolution in education industry, every school comes up with a new feature to attract parents. Sometimes these features create sudden spark and as a result of...

Comparison of Convergent and Divergent Students
What is Convergent and Divergent Thinking Convergent Thinking means that you observe something and exert your entire focus on that observation. Whereas Divergent Thinking means that the moment you observe something, your brain starts exploring on all the associated...

5 Tutoring Programs that Can Benefit Your Kiddos
Giving your kids the tools they'll need is every parent's dream. The only thing you have to figure out is which tools will prove vital to your children's future. The following are 5 Tutoring Programs that Can Benefit Your Kiddos. 5 Tutoring Programs that Can Benefit...

5 Whys Principle For Analytical Thinking Skill
Analytical thinking plays a vital role in character development and decision making. Teens who develop analytical thinking at an early stage have a stronger possibility to become future thought leaders. Analytical thinking has several benefits such as: 1-...

21 Tips For Students And New Graduates To Find A Job
Either you are a college student or a recent graduate, finding a job requires unique efforts combined with specific skillset. This article provides 21 Tips For Students And New Graduates To Find A Job 21 Tips For Students And New Graduates To Find A Job 1- Create a...

7 Graphics Tools Students Can Use to Make Money
A graphic designer visualizes the concepts and produces a ‘hard’ copy of the thoughts in digital format or paper sketch with the purpose of inspiring someone, generating a sale, motivating a customer, attracting the reader or simply conveying a message to its...

Top 10 New Year Resolutions for Students
A New Year's resolution is a self commitment that you will make to achieve personal goals, complete certain project or reform a bad habit. This commitment will be your driving force to consistently exert efforts throughout the year in order for achieve what you want...

Training – Introduction to Data Analysis
According to QuestionPro, Data analysis is the science of examining a set of data to draw conclusions about the information to be able to make decisions or simply to expand the knowledge on various subjects. It consists of subjecting data to operations...
Top 7 Ways to Stop Procrastinating
When it comes to being a top-notch student, there are many obstacles that can get in your way. Friends can drop by at any time, steering you away from your to-do list for school. Top 7 Ways to Stop Procrastinating
Why Your Kid Should Be Active and 7 Tips To Achieve This
Children are always active. Either playing, or fidgeting or running from one place to another. And honestly, this is a good thing. Why Your Kid Should Be Active and 7 Tips To Achieve This
10 Big Reasons why Indian Students Choose to Study Abroad
Indian Students choose to study abroad because it offers them a high paid job, a secure future, & quality lifestyle. It caters to their overall development. 10 Big Reasons why Indian Students Choose to Study Abroad
How To Get Your Kids To Cut Costs
Saving money is a skill that is important When it comes to finances, teaching kids about delayed gratification can help them prevent pointless spending, cut down their expenditures, and develop a value for taking charge of their finances. How To Get Your Kids To Cut Costs
How does bullying affect your child’s psychology?
Everyone has been there. On the playground, one girl snatches another girl’s hair and pulls her off the swing. The lunchroom in which, “the cruel child” knocks over a younger boy’s tray, causing his food to fall out. In the classroom, a group of students mocks the class’s youngest student for being stupid. How does bullying affect your child’s psychology?
Can Video Games Be Productive For Students?
Can Video Games Be Productive For Students?As parents, you may think that video games are just for leisure and ruin education. However video games may also help ramp up concentration, maximize memory and improve your children’s language.
0 Comments