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Author: Florrie Poff.. Article source: http://www.articledeshboard.com/. Used with author's permission.
Of all the problems your child could experience, bullying is probably one of the most serious. This article helps you to identify some of the signs that may indicate your child is being bullied.
First of all, bullying includes any behavior that intimidates or causes your child distress, hurt or pain whether emotionally, physically or a combination of these. There is no single reason why a child may be susceptible to bullying. For instance, a child may be bullied because they wear glasses, or because of their physical appearance, religion, race, signs of poverty, family break-up, being shy or simply quiet. The bully usually picks on a child that stands out to be different from other children and so they feel they can easily bully them.
It is a fact that bullying can destroy the confidence of a child thus leaving them feeling worthless, frightened, withdrawn and alone. The consequences of bullying if not stopped quickly could impact on a child for many years.
In the recent past several surveys of children have been undertaken and many have found that more than half said that they had been bullied at school. Most schools have in place an anti-bullying policy. However, despite this it would appear that bullying continues to be a major issue for children of all ages in our society today.
Parents therefore need to learn how to spot the tell-tale signs that might indicate that their child is being bullied in school, or any club or society that he or she attends. These signs do not automatically point to bullying, but they can be a useful indicator. Here are some signs to check in your child:
Reduced appetite.
Feeling sick in the morning, or has a headache, or stomach ache, and therefore does not want to go to school.
Interest in school events has diminished.
A change in the behavior of your child might be they have become moody, depressed, tearful, or possibly quiet and withdrawn.
Feeling sick when they get up, or has a headache, or stomach ache, and therefore does not want to go to school.
Visible signs of being anxious.
Takes a different walking route to school than previously.
Feeling sick before school, or has a headache, or stomach ache, and therefore does not want to attend school that day.
Has lost interest in studying and school grades have recently fallen.
Takes a different route to school than previously.
Has unexplained cuts and bruises.
Personal belongings have been damaged, broken, or been stolen.
Walks to school using a differant route than used previously.
Unexplained cuts and bruises.
Personal belongings have been damaged, broken, or are missing.
In our modern world of technology many children have a cell/mobile phone and Internet access. It is a fact that children often share their email addresses and phone numbers with their friends, but the sad fact is that friendships can easily come to an end and their personal information can, in some cases, be used against them to cause maximum hurt and embarrassment.
Therefore, does your child own a cell/mobile phone? It could be your child is receiving regular insulting, threatening or vulgar text messages. The bully may also leave unpleasant messages on the answer phone. So, is this happening to your child?
Your child may also be bullied by receiving threatening emails or there may be a very unpleasant campaign carried out by several children against your child through emails or through unmonitored Internet chat rooms. In this regard, parents clearly need to closely monitor the use of these modern methods of communication by their children.
It is possible that if your child is suffering in any way, that the cause is not bullying but something else. Your child might be genuinely unwell. But as you will know your child better than anyone else, you are in the best position to determine what the problem really is and seek medical help when necessary.
It is necessary to carry out a careful and thorough investigation to confirm or otherwise whether or not your child is being bullied. It is only when you have done this investigation that you will know the answer. Once you know, you can take whatever action is needed. To protect your child it is very important that you do not leave anything to chance, so check carefully and regularly.
About the author: Florrie Poff can help you to defeat child bullying. For Defeat Bullying Strategies subscribe to her Defeat Bullying Newsletter and download Two Free eBook Chapters
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