Many kids are excited to go back to school after summer break. But if your child has been bullied before in the past, returning to school can be very stressful. My daughter was bullied so badly that it lead to a suicide attempt, and our eventual withdrawing our kids to home school them. but there were a lot of things we did before we took them out of school to help them prepare. Here are 5 ways to help your bullied child go back to school.

1. Remind The School – Most school administrators are back to school weeks, if not months before school starts. Send an email to the Principal, ccing the Vice-principal and guidance counselors reminding them of the issues your child had last year with bullying. You can request that certain kids not be in the same class as your child. You can also remind them of any plans that you had put in place to help your child last year. Make sure that they know you are committed to having your child have a bully free school year.
2. Contact The Teacher– as soon as you know which teacher(s) your child has, send an email explaining that your child was bullied in the past and is very nervous about the possibility of it happening again this year. Now is the time to enlist their help, in the beginning, sp that they can be aware of the difficulties your child had in the past, and they can be aware of things to look out this year. Make sure that the teachers know your appreciate their help, and that you are looking to partner with them to help you child have a successful year.
3. Set Up a Safe Adult For Your Child– Set up a safe adult- a teacher, principal, nurse or guidance counselor for your child to go to if they are feel like they are being bullied or need help. Sometimes just knowing they have a safe space is enough to alleviate stress!
4. Make Their Classroom a Safe Place– If for some reason a child that has bullied your child ends up in the same classroom, be prepared to move your child to another classroom. Assuring your child that they will have a bully free classroom will go a long way to setting up for child for a successful year.
5. Encourage Old and New Friendships– Reach out to parents and friends from last year, and especially to any new kids that you know of this year! Having a friend in the class goes a LONG way to having a great year!

Starting school can be stressful enough without worrying about ANOTHER bullying year. Help your child start and have the best year ever with no bullying!