According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, one out of every five students reported being bullied in 2019, with slightly more female than male students reporting being a victim. 41% of students who reported being a target said they believed the bullying would continue.
Anti-Bullying Awareness Week occurs each November as a reminder that we all, parents, teachers, and faculty, have to do our part to stop bullying in its tracks.
How to Tell Your Child is Being Bullied
Here are some signs your child may be bullied at school:
- They often come home with torn clothes or damaged bookbags and other items
- They have unexplained cuts or bruises and continually claim to not remember how they got them
- They have few friends
- They are afraid of going to school, riding the bus, and taking part in extracurricular activities
- Suddenly does poorly in classwork
- Is appearing more moody (sad, angry, depressed)
- Having trouble sleeping
- Having nightmares
- Experiencing a loss of appetite
- Has developed low self-esteem
Signs your Child Maybe a Bully
To every victim, there is a bully, and many parents are often shocked to find out it is their own son or daughter. Here are some signs your child may be bullying someone else at school:
- They constantly justify their bad behavior and shift blame onto others
- They have friends you often see acting meanly or aggressively
- They are experiencing difficulty sleeping because of snoring or apnea
- They have a history of getting into trouble at school
- They exhibit certain behavioral issues like impulsiveness, frustration, and lacking empathy
- There is anger and/or violence in your own home
What to Do if Your Child is Involved in Bullying
Whether your child is the victim or the bully, it’s important to calmly speak with them to understand what may be going on.
Getting help for your child is also strongly encouraged. Those that have been bullied will have experienced trauma from it, while those that are bullies typically experienced trauma or event that led to the bullying.
If you would like to explore treatment options for your child, please get in touch with me.
SOURCES:
https://www.stopbullying.gov/
https://www.pacer.org/bullying/info/stats.asp
https://childmind.org/article/what-to-do-if-your-child-is-bullying/