I saw the video and experienced the subsequent outrage across social media and the news. Everybody was talking about the 10 or 11 year olds who were caught on camera hurling abuses and bullying a 12-year-old from an economically weaker segment. All the anger was aimed towards the school and their inability to take action or prevent this.

But I cannot help asking as I watch these little 10-year-olds hurling the choicest abuses – what is our role as parents? Where are children accessing language like this? Is it just the school? We must critically analyse the home environment, which could be a larger influencing factor. Are we communicating enough with our children; are we involved and are we setting the right examples?

While bullying is a phenomenon that must be addressed by schools through more vigilance, better lines of communication and action, we cannot at any point forget our role as parents. Children who are bullied will find it easier to communicate with their parents. Parents need to be in constant touch with their child’s feelings and concerns to catch this early on before it impacts a child emotionally.

Parents of bullies need to play a significant role in changing this behavior. It is imperative to teach children the importance of being empathic and more importantly, the consequences of aggressive behaviour. All parents need to lead by example, by modeling the very behaviour we want from our children. For example, we cannot fly off our handle whenever something goes wrong, or rush to beat/shout at every person on the road that infuriates us!

And finally, spend enough time with them. Don’t let bad behaviour be the only way they get your attention.

We as parents play the most important role in molding our children to become confident, happy and good citizens. And we cannot outsource this.