What to do if my child is bullied?
Bullying is more common than you think. Sometimes, your child may not even know they are being bullied, and just feel upset or uncomfortable around certain people As parents, we have to find a way to talk to them and understand what may be happening.
Bullying is when 1 or more children repeatedly and intentionally intimidate, harass, or harm a victim who is seen as unable to defend herself/himself. Bullying can be physical (to person or to their property), verbal, or social. In the age of social media, cyberbullying has become real issue we face.
How common is bullying?
1 in 6 high school students are cyber-bullied.
1 in 5 high school students are bullied.
Middle school has the highest rates of bullying at 28%.
Bullying typically affects LGTBQ youth and females more than their counterparts.
How do you know if your child is being bullied?
Visible bruises
Suddenly more anxious
Not eating, sleeping, and avoiding things they like (for example, school)
Acting differently
What are the consequences of bullying?
Bullying has real consequences, some of which can cause life-long damage.
Injury
Social and emotional trauma that leads to mental health and behavior problems
Self-harm and suicide/death
Increased risk of anxiety and depression
Difficulty sleeping and dropping grades
Remember, those who BULLY also suffer. They are at risk for substance abuse, academic issues, and violence/discipline issues.
What can you do as a parent if your child is being bullied?
VALIDATE their feelings so that they know you hear them and they can feel safe talking to you
BUILD their CONFIDENCE by encouraging participation in clubs, sports, and things they enjoy with positive individuals
Bring up the issue in an indirect way to help them open up (tell a story about bullying and then ask if they’ve seen it happen)
INTERVENE early to lessen the harm and prevent future mental health consequences
Create a healthy family environment
Connect your child to caring adults and activities like mentoring
What can you tell your child to do if they are being bullied?
Use a buddy system
Walk away/ignore the bully
Tell an adult they trust
Talk about it unpack their emotions
School is hard enough without bullying. Having a ”bubble” home environment - a home where they feel safe, heard, loved, and themselves - for your child can help them handle difficulties outside the home. Support your child as they go through this and remind them that they will weather this storm. If you would like more information, please check out https://www.stopbullying.gov/.
Your PediPals