Students should have fun at school.Recent acts of violence have caused fear in students, teachers, and parents.It is possible to encourage empathy, foster problem solving skills, and reduce tendencies towards violence before they get out of hand.You can help create a safe environment at school by taking steps to prevent violence at the individual level.
Step 1: Understand individual risk factors.
There are risk factors that can increase the likelihood of a young person becoming violent.You can better recognize when a young person needs additional support, guidance, or therapy by becoming aware of these risk factors.The factors include a history of violence, early aggressive behavior, low IQ, and involvement with drugs or alcohol.
Step 2: Give praise and encouragement.
Put your efforts toward the positive instead of focusing on discipline, punishment, and negative reinforcement.Praise good behavior, encourage individual growth, and emphasize positive attitudes.
Step 3: Problem-solving skills can be strengthened.
Children get the skills to handle all sorts of situations when they are given strong problem-solving skills.By helping kids evaluate and identify problems, role-modeling good problem-solving behavior, and allowing for natural consequences, you can encourage and strengthen problem solving skills.When there is a problem, help your child identify it and think about ways to solve it.Discuss strategies with your child when role-modeling good problem-solving.Don't punish your child if they bring home a bad grade.Talk to them about how you can work together to get the grade.Children will learn more if they experience the true consequences of their actions, rather than being prevented from doing so.If a teenager spends all of their money on the first thing they want, and you refuse to give them more, they will learn how to blow money without thinking.
Step 4: Support is offered.
Allow students the space to work on their own, but also be available to offer support when needed.Make sure that there are additional resources for character building, conflict resolution, and psychological support in the schools.Identifying and helping people with social problems can prevent school violence.
Step 5: Put educational programs in place.
Positive influence can be provided by educational programs that focus on self-esteem, self control, and strategies for resolving conflicts without violence.The effectiveness of such programs has been proven to decrease instances of violent activity.You should support the implementation of such programs in your school.
Step 6: Take a look at your language.
The way that you speak affects your students and children.They will internalize the idea that women are less than if you talk about them in a negative way.If you talk about violence with children, you should be as transparent as possible.Violence is not the answer.
Step 7: Know the family risk factors.
There are many factors that can increase the likelihood of a young person becoming violent.You have to change the risk factors within your own family.Young people in a household with risk factors may benefit from additional support, guidance, or therapy to prevent violent outcomes.These factors include: Highly authoritarian child-rearing attitudes, Lax, harsh, or very inconsistent boundaries, and low educational and income levels of parents.
Step 8: Don't be afraid to talk openly.
Communication with your children or students should be open and honest.Encourage them to express their feelings, desires, hopes, and dreams by giving them the space to work out their views.Ask them to express their expectations for the relationships in their lives when you talk about them.
Step 9: Understand the causes of violence.
Most violent actions (by both children and adults) occur for one or more of the following reasons.If you understand these, you may be able to stop violence before it starts.Many people use violence to express their feelings.Violence is used to control others.When someone wants to retaliate against someone who has hurt them, violence comes into play.
Step 10: Pay attention.
It is far easier to prevent school violence than it is to pay attention.Even older kids need important and focused face-time with their parents and teachers, even if they don't seem to enjoy it.It is possible to reduce tendencies toward school violence by showing up for your children or students and getting to know their likes and dislikes.
Step 11: Set clear boundaries and honor them.
Children thrive when they are aware of their boundaries.If the rules and boundaries are always changing, this can cause stress in children and young adults.Take some time to determine the boundaries you would like to have in place.Make the rules clear and explicit.Honor the consequences for violating the boundaries.
Step 12: Know the warning signs.
Take notice of any changes in your child's behavior.If you are clear on what normal is for the child, you can evaluate this.Changes might include withdrawal from family or friends, no longer participating in sports or activities the child had seemed to enjoy, a drop in grades, trouble sleeping, and/or chronic physical ailments.These changes can show that something is not right with your child.If you see these signs, begin by talking to your child and asking for help.Other more pressing signs include: engaging in risky activity, such as recreational drugs, tobacco, sex, alcohol.Harboring a destructive mood, hurting animals, destroying property and making threats.Obsessing on suicide and death, showing interest for weapons or violence in writing, drawing or conversations may be signs of a mental health issue.It is best for a young person to get help if you notice a few of these signs.
Step 13: Children and young adults should not be near firearms.
According to a 2006 survey of gun-owning Americans with children, 21.7% stored a gun loaded, 31.6% had a unlocked gun, and 8.3% had one or more guns unlocked and loaded.In households with teenagers, firearms were left unlocked 41.7% of the time.One of the best ways to prevent your child or adolescent from harming themselves or someone else with a firearm is to keep it locked in a safe with an additional cable lock.To keep guns out of your home.
Step 14: Know when to intervene.
It is important for you to be able to intervene when you notice a child that could potentially harm others.Do you know if any students use threatening language?Have you heard of people threatening to bring weapons to school?Encourage your children or students to do the same by immediately reporting them to a school administrator or police.
Step 15: You should get involved.
Getting involved is one of the best ways to prevent violence in schools.This may include volunteering at your child's school, coaching a sports team, or organizing a community event.The less likely violence is to occur if you can get to know your child as well as the other children around them and build a sense of community.
Step 16: Encourage people to speak up.
Encouraging young people to speak up when they see or hear things that aren't right can help prevent violence in schools.Some students may not want to get involved, but they may be able to prevent a serious threat of violence by conveying information through safe channels.
Step 17: Understand the risks faced by young people.
Many adults are not aware of the many stressors faced by children and young adults.Young people can be affected by the pressures of social media, substance abuse, dating and sex.Young people can be overwhelmed by the pressure to succeed in school.Being aware of the sources of stress in the lives of your children or students can make you a better advocate and source of support when they need you.
Step 18: The "Five C's" are taught.
It is possible to prevent violence and create a plan of action with the help of this acronym.Try to remain calm and clear-headed no matter what.Common sense and instincts say to move away from the shooter, windows, and doors.Use your instincts to stay safe.Try to think of something that hasn't been done before, such as putting soap on the floor to trip the attacker.You can get to a phone and call Emergency Services.