Parent to Parent: Beating the Bully

From the time they're born, parents will do just about anything to protect their little ones, but when a real bully picks on your child, most moms and dads are unsure how to handle the situation. In tonight's Parent to Parent, we found that sometimes the best advice is building up your child instead of bringing down the bully.

Say hello to the Florez family -- mom Blanca, 11-year-old Carlos and his two younger siblings’.

After a long day of school and homework, Carlos likes to spend his afternoons shooting hoops, but on one of those relaxing afternoons turned violent two years ago, when a bully started picking on him.

Carlos Florez: He would insult me, he would say bad words to me. He would threaten me. I really don't know why he picked on me, but I was really usually his main target.

Blanca Florez: I felt like I needed to help Carlos to find a way to solve the problem by himself.

But sometimes the best way to solve the problem is to improve your child's self-esteem. 7's parenting expert Dr. Sally suggests find an activity your son or daughter enjoys and help build their skills and morale.

Dr. Sally: It's not a quick solution, but it's a process that has a beginning and a goal.

Carlos did just that at Anta's Fitness and Self-Defense in Doral. There, he's part of the bully busters program -- where kids learn 12 different ways to defeat a bully mentally.

We are continuously being proactive telling them that they are winners, champions, they are destined for greatness.

Both the bully buster program and Dr. Sally says if ignoring the bully doesn't work, try using distraction or humor. You can also try being nice.

Dr. Sally: You're going to confuse the bully, you're going to stop him in his tracks. He may not know how to react.

As for parents, find out everything you can about the situation by asking open-ended questions. Plus, try role playing so your child knows what to say and what to do.

And if the situation does get worse and your child is attacked let them know they should ask an adult for help and they shouldn't be afraid to protect themselves.

Good news for Carlos, he was finally able to banish his bully and gain a lot of self-confidence in the meantime.

Carlos Florez: I'm not afraid anymore. I feel stronger now. I feel that I can do almost anything.

Parents, you can also try to talk to the bully's parents, but do it in a calm and non-threatening manner.

Web info:

If you have a concern Dr. Sally can help you with e-mail us at: Parent@wsvn.com

Dr. Sally Goldberg's website:
http://www.drsallyparenting.com

Anta's Fitness and Self-Defense:
http://www.doralkungfu.com
(305) 599-3649
10719 NW 58 Street