Bullying has been around for as long as one can remember and most adults today can even recall instances of them being bullied when young (or worse, being the bully themselves). It's a societal norm that shows very little signs of being fettered, even when these days, a majority of people have strictly been opposed to the practice. And it is more commonly found in areas where children congregate - namely, schools and playgrounds. So today, we discuss the ways by which you can help your child ward off a bully at a playground.
Bullying can be a traumatizing experience for many and the consequences of letting it go unnoticed surface in the later years of a child's life. To help with the problem in the first place, we've devised of a major role that is to be played by the parents of the bullied to ensure that their child doesn't face anything of similar nature anytime soon.

So as a parent, your first job is to help guide your child on how to analyze situations properly. Try to help teach basic methods of avoiding confrontation with a bully in the first place, and that if they still are faced by one, they should immediately report to an adult nearby. This could be the teacher in a school playground, or you the parent. Parents must be vigilant at all times if they accompany their child to the playground and to be sure to keep an eye on their children. This helps you become immediately aware of the situation your child might be in and you can issue proper steps to help diffuse it.

The steps
€ If your child is being physically hurt, the first thing you should consider is removing him/her from the situation immediately.
€ You can follow up with a swift telling-off to the bully, but be prepared to listen to their side of the story too.
€ Letting the parent of the bully know of their child's actions is also vital if they're around and available.
There are, however, certain aspects you need to keep in mind before you intervene in such a situation. Children try to learn individuality from an early age and don't tend to share their problems all too often with their parents, all in the hopes that they might solve it themselves. If you spot a confrontation, but see that your child is coping well enough, wait a while before you intervene or don't at all. You can also bring the matter to light in front of other parents who will better help you guide through the problem.
And when you do decide to arbitrate in the matter, be cautious when approaching the children. Remember how bullies in our youth weren't too happy with anyone complaining about them and bullied all the more afterwards? This is still the same trait followed today. Bailing your child now only to be in a bigger problem later is to be considered. If all else fails, report the child to his/her parents and let them know of their conduct.