Bullying can have long-lasting effects on a person’s life, and in recent years, it has intensified due to the internet. It is painful even to adults to be on the receiving end of hurtful words and actions, so can you imagine how a child feels when they are made to feel inferior during their formative years?
Parents and teachers both need to be alert when it comes to detecting bullying. Bullied children often don’t say anything about the emotional or physical abuse they experience because they are afraid or embarrassed. So, it is up to adults to be vigilant enough to detect when something isn’t right, so they can minimize, and hopefully prevent, the effects of bullying.
The first step is to be more aware of the signs that could indicate your child is being bullied. Here are some common characteristics bullied children display:
- Often lose their things in school, parks, or other places where they are around other children. This could indicate things are being stolen from them.
- May have a sudden drop in grades.
- Have visible cuts and bruises on their bodies that seem to lack explanation.
- Low self-confidence.
- Often appear lonely or have a sudden withdrawal from people.
- May have few friends at school.
- Often complain of sickness to avoid going to school.
- Have a change in attitude or behavior.
- Do not want to join other classmates in activities.
- Do not want to ride the bus with their classmates.
- Resist going to school.
- Do not eat well.
- Do not sleep well or may even cry at night or in their sleep.
- Wetting in bed.
If you have identified signs, it’s time to take action. Talk with other parents and teachers to address your concerns and find the root cause of the bullying. Keep in mind that every bully has some sort of insecurity, pain, or sadness they bear, so they take it on others. If you can help address those problems and build a support group for all of the children, bullying can be minimized.
