Anti Bullying Week 2024 – Resources for parents

This week is Anti Bullying Week. If your child is experiencing bullying, it can impact every aspect of their life, from their mental well-being to their relationships with family and friends. Children who are bullied may feel stressed, anxious, and angry, sometimes leading to emotional outbursts or lashing out at home. Your support and understanding can make a crucial difference.

The Anti-Bullying Alliance’s theme this year, “Choose Respect”, highlights the importance of nurturing respectful relationships to combat bullying. Here’s how you can help your child navigate this challenging experience with confidence and resilience:

1. Start with a Safe, Open Conversation

Create a safe space for your child to talk about their experiences. Listening without judgment and responding calmly will encourage them to open up. Instead of diving into questions, give them the chance to express their feelings freely, validating their emotions and reassuring them that they’re not alone.

2. Reassure and Empower

Help your child understand that bullying is never their fault, and reinforce their value. Talk to them about choosing respect in all interactions and model positive, assertive responses they can use. Empowering them with phrases like, “Please stop,” or “I don’t appreciate that,” can help them feel more in control.

3. Build Resilience and Coping Skills

Teach your child healthy ways to cope with their feelings, such as journaling, drawing, or even talking to a friend. Encourage friendships with supportive peers and help them find activities that boost their self-esteem.

4. Work with Their School

Schools in the UK are required to address bullying. Speak to their teachers or school staff and discuss how they can support your child. Make sure they understand the impact on your child’s well-being and monitor how the situation progresses.

If you’d like more in-depth guidance on helping your child, the Anti-Bullying Alliance’s 2024 Anti-Bullying Week page provides valuable resources. Remember, by showing your child they have your full support, you’re giving them the strength they need to overcome this tough time. We’ve shared some specific strategies in our blog post here too.

Finding Connection with Your Teen During GCSE’s

Finding Connection with Your Teen During GCSE’s

In the coming months, thousands of teenagers across the UK will sit their GCSEs. It’s the culmination of years of schoolwork and, for many, a gateway to the next stage of life. But for some young people, it doesn’t feel like that at all.  Instead, exam season can bring fear, anxiety, pressure, and conflict—especially at home.
Many parents are finding themselves in daily battles. Conversations about revision turn into shouting matches. Doors slammed. Tears shed. Some young people may even tip into behaviour that feels unacceptable or unsafe—verbal and physical aggression, or complete withdrawal.
At Capa First Response, we work with families every day who are walking this exact path. And we want you to know this: there is nothing wrong with your parenting. This is hard. For all of you.

Eliza Fricker #CapaCommunityConnections

Eliza Fricker #CapaCommunityConnections

Information and the video of the fantastic session from Eliza Fricker. In the video you can hear Eliza talk through her family’s experience with school avoidance, PDA and how it brought her to start illustrating and writing books for parents/carers and for young  people themselves. She shares the story behind ‘Can’t not Won’t’ – the book that became a Sunday Times Bestseller.