BULLYING is a terrible experience and one every parent hopes their child won’t come across or take part in.
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Unfortunately it is still a very real problem in schools across Australia and indeed the world.
Often children won’t discuss it with their parents and may bottle it up and keep their problems to themselves.
If you are worried your child is being bullied, here are 10 signs they could be and what you want to do help.
- Not wanting to go to school, finding excuses to stay home, talking about hating school, not wanting to talk about school at all.
- Frequently complaining of headaches, stomach aches or other ailments.
- Bruises, scratches, torn clothing, missing or damaged possessions.
- Being tense, tearful or unhappy after school.
- Changing relationships with siblings. For example becoming more aggressive towards them.
- Having trouble sleeping or having bad dreams.
- Talking about not having any friends.
- Deterioration in school work/grades.
- Hiding their mobile phone and appearing visibly upset after receiving text messaging/emails.
- Becoming more and more withdrawn when they were once outgoing and bubbly.
So, you’ve read the above signs and are now worried your child is being bullied, but don’t know how to help.
Here’s some tips to do just that:
- Let your child know that bullying, in all its forms, is never acceptable.
- Listen to your child and take their feelings and fears seriously.
- Make sure your child know that being bullied is not their fault.
- Don’t tell them not to worry, toughen up or call them weak, a sook or a wuss.
- Talk about what has happened and help them work out some coping strategies.
- If the bullying is verbal, help your child develop skills to ignore it so that the bully does not get the satisfaction of a reaction.
- Help them practice the way to walk looking confident with head up.
- Avoid the urge to take everything into your own hands unless absolutely necessary as this will make your child feel less in control.
For more strategies to help your child manage bullying situations visit www.interrelate.org.au.
