Bullying is one of the most serious problems faced by adults and children nowadays. It exists in schools, in the workplace and in other facets of society. Children and teenagers seem to be the ones experiencing this problem the most.
According to IOL, there are three types of bullying: The first is verbal (name-calling, teasing and threats); the second, physical (kicking, pushing and taking a person's possessions); and the third, psychological (rumor-spreading, intimidation and manipulation of relationships). Bullying, which is most prevalent in middle school, causes children to have increased risks of depression, low self-esteem, poor school performance and suicide, according to StopBullying.gov.
Oftentimes, parents don't know that their child is being bullied at school. The youngster may be scared to confide to adults about the torment he/she experiences. However, this doesn't mean that kids don't exhibit signs that they are being bullied.
The symptoms of a child experiencing bullying are unexplained reluctance to attend school, abrupt difficulty in doing school work or homework, anxiety, fearfulness, nightmares, troubled sleep, missing belongings, frequent headaches or stomach pain and being easily upset. When parents encounter these in their child, it's time for them to ask thoughtfully how the kid spends his or her break time. Parents can also ask the child if there are other kids being bullied at school.
If the kid admits that he/she is being bullied, parents should remain calm, listen, and allow the child to explain the entire story and his/her feelings about it, IOL advised. Parents shouldn't minimize the bullying situation as well.
To help lessen the child's situation, parents must encourage the youngster to make new friends to change their environment and to stay close with friends or an adult to lessen bullying instances. It's important for bullied children to stay with his/her peers during breaks or remain in a place where teachers and school staff can see them.
Parents should identify and cheer on the child's positive attitudes. This way, he/she regains self-confidence and assertiveness and learns how to stand up against his/her tormentors.
Parents of the bullied child should ensure that the school discusses the behavior of the bully with his/her parents. The school should also boost adult supervision and monitor and offer support for bullied children.
In New York's West Genesee School District, local schools are preventing bullying via a simple click of a button called Bully Button, CNY Central reports. The tip line, which is displayed on the school district's website, allows both students and parents to anonymously report a bullying incident. The school where the bullying took place will immediately be alerted.
