Category: Challenging and Timely Issues
Age range:

Concerns about bullying often revolve around the physical and verbal forms, but  there is a third type of bullying that is just as insidious as the taunting and shoving that plagues school children. Relational Aggression is a more subtle and indirect form of bullying, and it is a serious problem that affects countless children every day. A relational bully purposely tries to cause social harm by attempting to damage or manipulate another child’s relationships within a social circle through such behaviors as excluding, ignoring, gossiping, or eye-rolling, to name just a few.  Unfortunately, many teachers and parents are either oblivious to it or consider it a "normal" part of growing up. To the children affected by relational aggression, from the targets to the perpetrators and bystanders, the consequences are enormous. It is up to parents and teachers to work with children to help put an end to this kind of bullying.

This workshop focuses on what parents can do to keep their children from becoming or overcome being either an aggressor or a target of relational aggression. This session will first define relational aggression and allow parents to share their concerns and experiences. During the workshop, the warning signs that may point to a child being a target of relational aggression will be examined along with what parents can do to help their struggling child. Participants will also explore the roles of the relational bully and bystanders and how parents can assist their child to avoid these troubling behaviors through teaching them friendship and empathy skills. The workshop helps parents develop the ability to assess, prevent, intervene, advocate, and problem solve with their child in order to reduce or stop the impact of relational aggression.