How to Prevent Bullying by Building Confidence

If your child has been the victim of bullying, you know the damaging effects it can have on a child’s self-esteem and overall well-being. Statistics show that in Canada 47 percent of parents say their children have been the victim of bullying.

We all know that bullies pick their victims for various reasons. Some bullies seek out peers who have low self-confidence. Bullies tend to choose victims who will react to their hurtful words. 

This is why building self-esteem is so important. As kids gain more self-confidence, they are better able to identify their strengths. They will be able to shrug off what the bully does or says because they’ll have more self-confidence. Once the bully doesn’t get a reaction, they usually stop.

The question is…how do you help your child build self-confidence? One way is to help them find activities that really interest them. We’re going to take a look at how activities can build self-confidence as well as how to recognize signs that your child is being bullied.

How activities and afterschool programs can build self-confidence

Activities and afterschool programs are not only a great way to keep kids busy and occupied, but they can also help to build self-confidence, which in turn can prevent children from becoming the victims of bullies. Those who have worked with children have noted how afterschool school programs help to build self-esteem and identity development. Here’s how:

Build on Children’s Strengths and Passions

When kids are taking part in activities they enjoy, they are learning what their strengths are and how to build on them. They learn how to do things which helps to build their confidence. 

Work on Social Skills

As kids take part in afterschool activities, they learn how to become more social. This leads to making friendships. When kids have more friends, bullies may not be as likely to bother them because they see that others are in their corner.

Inspires Them

When kids take part in extracurricular activities, they are often inspired to try new things. This sense of adventure can help to build self-esteem. They learn that the sky’s the limit and they can do anything. 

Builds Hidden Talents

Many times kids don’t realize they have talents hiding within. As they try new activities during after-school programs, they begin to see all they have inside of them. This leads to a new sense of self-confidence as they believe in themselves and try new things.

Being aware of how afterschool programs can help build confidence is just as important as being able to recognize the signs of bullying. Many children are reluctant to tell their parents they’re being bullied out of fear and embarrassment. 

How to recognize the signs of bullying

Here are some things to look out for that could indicate that your child is being bullied:

Damaged or destroyed clothes or personal items

If a child is being bullied, the bully may damage another child’s belongings.

Trouble sleeping

Being bullied can cause fear and anxiety that leads to trouble sleeping.

Unexplained injuries

Kids may be hurting your child causing these injuries.

Change in eating habits

Kids may skip meals or come home starving because they didn’t eat lunch at school if they were being bullied.

These are just a few things to keep your eyes open for when it comes to your child’s behavior. If you notice one or several of these, try to talk with your child to see what’s going on before the situation escalates.

After School Activities at MakerKids

When it comes to after-school activities, MakerKids offers a variety of STEM classes that will keep your child interested and engaged. They will build their self-esteem as they learn new skills and how to create amazing projects. For more information on our classes, call us at 1-844-MAKERKIDS or reach out to us online.