School’s out, the sun is shining, and it’s officially your child’s favorite time of year! It’s also the time of year for summer camp which can be an incredibly rewarding experience for your child. The only downside, as with any other children’s social event, is bullying. So, before your child leaves for summer camp, give them the tools and prepare them for how to handle, prevent, or stop bullying at summer camp.
4 Ways to Stop Bullying at Summer Camp
1. Confide in someone
If your child is the victim of a bully, encourage them to seek help. The best kind of person to go to for these kinds of scenarios is a camp counselor. Hopefully, your child has one counselor or leader in particular that they are familiar with and would feel comfortable going to. If your child is often hesitant to speak up, let them know that camp counselors are there to help and their job is to make summer camp as safe and enjoyable as possible.
2. Walk away
Bullies get satisfaction from the reaction of their victims. Advise your child to simply walk away if they are being bullied. They need not retaliate with words or physical violence. Your child will be able to fully control the situation by quietly walking away.
3. Stay in groups
A bully will often be less active when others are in the same room as them. Your child should try to keep a handful of friends around them as often as possible and avoid being alone with the bully.
4. Speak up
If your child is not being bullied at summer camp, that’s great! But, there’s a high chance that other campers are getting bullied. If your child is a witness to bullying of any kind, encourage them to speak up. Some victims of bullying are too afraid to say anything and your child could be the solution. Teach your child ways they can avoid encouraging the bully, too. Laughing or smiling at insults a bully says can encourage them to keep going.