ChurchSafety

Learning how to deal with our peers is part of growing up. While all children should experience healthy conflict—conflict that brings growth and maturity—it is likely they'll encounter other children who wield their age, size, and superior knowledge like weapons of power, bullying and even abusing those around them. Use the following simple tips to help equip you to watch and protect the children under your care from peer abuse at church.

• Be watchful. Know where the kids under your care are at all times. Observe the dynamics in the group and act wisely.
  
  
• Know the signs. Make sure everyone in a supervisory role knows the common symptoms and behaviors of a child who has been abused.
  
  
• Be aware of behavior. All workers should be educated about typical behavior between children versus behavior that should send up a red flag.
  
  
• Cover the bases. Always have enough supervisors present for activities involving children.
  
  

• Get the facts. Ask the child exactly what has happened. If necessary, talk to other children who were present.
  
  
• Prepare. Come up with potential scenarios where a child might encounter a bully and act out positive ways to handle the conflict.
  
  
• Involve other adults. Sometimes it will be necessary to bring teachers and the bully's parents into the situation.
  
  

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