Children Being Bullied: 3 Reasons to Use Alternative Methods to Deal With Your Child’s Bully

Legal Professionals May Have Remedies for This Devastating Life Situation

Bullying has been front and center in recent news coverage, particularly among junior high and high school age children. However, the phenomenon is not limited to this age group— research actually indicates that these behaviors may begin as early as 3 years of age. In fact, “data from one study of children’s experience with violence showed that 20.4% of children ages 2-5 had experienced physical bullying in their lifetime and 14.6% had been teased (verbally bullied).” (Source: http://www.naeyc.org/blogs/bullying-early-childhood)

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, numbers indicate that 50 percent of children are bullied and l0 percent are victims of bullying on a regular basis, and children who have unique personalities are especially vulnerable to bullying problems. (Source: http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Bullying-080.aspx)

In addition, the second leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 10 to 24 is suicide, according to the CDC. Some of these suicides may be attributable to the individual being bullied.

(Source:  http://www.cdc.gov/injury/images/lc-charts/leading_causes_of_death_age_group_2014_1050w760h.gif)

When a child is being bullied, it is a very emotional situation for children and their parents. The initial reaction is to handle it personally, but that can lead to worse situations and consequences. The solution we recommend is having an experienced attorney contact the bully’s parents directly by sending them an informative letter regarding the legal consequences of bullying and a request to have their child immediately cease and desist from future bullying behavior.

You will not want to deal with a bully directly. There are numerous risks in doing so, including:

1. You may break the law and go to jail. You may well incur legal action against you if you take physical action or make documented threats against a bully.
    
2. You may aggravate an already-bad situation. By calling out the bully and the bullying behavior, you may provoke them into retaliatory action, which could ultimately result in physical injury to either you or the bully, or both of you.
    
3. You may end up embarrassing your child or inadvertently affect their self-esteem. Your child could view your personal confrontation with a bully as a form of personal humiliation, e.g., believing you are fighting their battles for them.

As the saying goes, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.” Respect and utilize the law in dealing with bullying, for your child’s sake as much as your own.

How is this accomplished? Our organization offers an attorney letter that will clarify the situation to the parents and elaborate on the negative consequences if this bullying does not stop. The expectation is that the parents will intercede with their children to ensure that no legal consequences result, either for them or for their children.

A “stop bullying cease and desist letter” includes an attorney consultation, followed by the issuance of a respectful letter to the parents of the young bully that outlines the following:

• Laws that make bullying illegal and/or bullies liable for damages.
• What is bullying? Legal definitions of behavior that includes bullying.
• How bullying may cause serious psychological damage and physical harm to the victim of bullying.
• Resources for the parents of the bully to identify signs if their child is being a bully.
• Ways for the parents of the bully to counteract bully behavior.
• The consequences of a parent’s failure to stop bullying behavior (legal liability, personal protection orders, financial liability, police involvement and more)

For more information, visit https://www.allisontaylor.com/blog/bully-cease-desist-letter/ or call 800 890 5645.