10 Signs Your Child May Be Being Bullied
When Children Seek Acceptance
It is unfortunate to say that bullying, in one form or another, has been around a long long time. Some might say it is a fact of life. Experts in the study of bullying behavior agree bullying is an attempt by a child to gain power and control. Bullying is a means, although not a good one, to gain social status among peers.
Bullying behavior tends to peak during the middle school years, when a child is a tween, at about the age 11. It is at this time that peers become more important in the developing child's life. Parents are sidelined, no longer being viewed as the expert in things like what to wear, how to talk, attitudes to family members, and school. In an attempt to gain status within the peer group and to experiment with the natural desire to assert their independence, tweens and teens are vulnerable to bullying others. They are also vulnerable to being bullied. The child's desire to be independent, to handle situations on their own, or upon the advice of friends may be reluctant to tell an adult they are being bullied.
National Bullying Prevention Center
Statistics
- Nearly 1/3 of all school age children are bullied each year
- That is upward of 13 million children
- During Grades 4-8 the number of children bullied jumps to 90%
- Bullying is now a 24/7 activity due to the use and availability of technology
- One cyber bullying message has the potential to reach millions of readers, unlike a negative comment made on the playground or in the lunch room
What To Do If You Are Cyber Bullied
Preventing Bullying
10 Signs Your Child May Be Being Bullied
1. Physical complaints: headaches, stomachaches, difficulty concentrating
2. Changes: in sleep patterns, eating habits, hygiene, homework, friends
3. Lost/Damaged: clothing, property (games/toys)
4. Bruises: when asked makes attempt to minimize or says it happened in gym
5. Loss of Enthusiasm: does not want to participate or attend previously enjoyed activities, school club, church, a particular friend's house, afterschool sport
6. Changes: isolates self from friends, does not call, Facebook,Twitter etc
7. Decline: in grades, school attendance, class attendance, tardy for school/class
8. Avoidance: going to school, previously enjoyed activities, frequent trips to the school nurse or school counselor
9. Expression: writing, singing, painting,or verbal expressions depicting sadness, loneliness, sadness, anger
10. Weapon: increased interest in weapons, taking something to school to use as a weapon
Bullying and Cyber Bullying In School and At Home
Most bullying takes place in school and online. In schools the typical places for bullying to occur is in hallways, the cafeteria, bathrooms, the playground, bus stop, and on the bus.
While most schools have internet safety policies that parents and students must sign in order for the student to use school computers this has not been much of a deterrent to cyber bullying. More and more schools are allowing students to carry individual cell phones and ipads, all of which may allow bullying to occur online during school hours. At home, any time a teen is unsupervised using the computer there is the potential for cyber bullying to occur.
School Technology
Bullies at School
RelatedLinks
- http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net
- PACER Center - Assistance for Children with Disabilities, Bullying Prevention, Parent Workshops
PACER Center's mission is to expand opportunities and enhance the quality of life of children and young adults with disabilities and provide family programs. - KidsHealth - the Web's most visited site about children's health
KidsHealth is the #1 most-trusted source for physician-reviewed information and advice on children's health and parenting issues. For parents, kids, teens, and educators, in English and in Spanish.