Dealing With Childhood Bullying: Part 2
Noticing Signs Of Bullying
Most children will not tell you they are being bullied for fear of getting the bully in trouble. After all, this person is already causing them grief, let alone what may happen after the bully gets confronted. You must look for signs of bullying so you can get your son or daughter to talk about the issue. Look for changes in your child’s mood or behavior. Your child may start spending more time in bed or acting lethargic when you talk to him or her. Your child may also become erratic or combative, especially when you bring up the issue. Don’t automatically assume your child is lashing out from pre-teen hormones, as those outbursts may be signs of bigger trouble brewing below the surface.
Comforting Your Child
You need to comfort your child through this difficult situation. How you go about this process will depend on the child and the nature of the bullying. If you need advice before you approach this matter, you can work with a child counselor to find the best way to reach out to your child. You could try to provide reasons as to why the bully is acting in a certain way, like jealousy or a lack of good parental guidance. You may also reassure your child that he or she is accomplished, smart, funny, kind, and a good person overall. A confidence boost from mom or dad may not seem like it does much, but for some children, it means the world.
Taking Action Against Childhood Bullying
First, make sure your child has the help and support he needs to get through this process. Part of this will come from home, and part of it will come from a counselor or therapist that your child feels comfortable with. Let your child have some alone time with the counselor to discuss issues he or she may not have told you at the time. You can also attend sessions with your child to address issues as a family. Ask your counselor what the best approach is for ending the bullying, whether it is contacting the parents of the bully, contacting a school administrator, or contacting the police – depending on the severity of the situation.
If the bullying becomes a big enough problem that your child threatens suicide or refuses to go to school, you need to talk to someone at the school about the matter. The principal can then call in the bully’s parents to discuss the issue and hopefully come to a resolution about it. If the parents are not willing to cooperate with you, you can consider changing schools or working with an even higher authority in the school system. With the right amount of effort, you can get justice for your kid.
