School violence is an extremely bad act, but it is spreading rapidly among young people. So what should be done when a child is being bullied and how can you tell if your child is having trouble at school?
How to detect bullying behavior
Children who are bullied often do not tell their parents directly and hide it for fear of being beaten more. Therefore, asking your child directly will not be effective. Parents can observe the signs below to know whether the child is being bullied.
- Unexplained physical signs such as bruises, cuts, broken bones, or wounds that are healing.
- The child is afraid of going to school or participating in school activities.
- Anxiety, tension, or being highly vigilant.
- Having few friends at school or outside of school.
- Suddenly losing friends or avoiding social situations.
- Personal belongings such as clothing or electronics are lost or damaged.
- Often asks for money.
- Declining academic performance.
- Misses school or asks a parent to come pick them up from school.
- Always wants to be close to adults.
- Sleep disturbances and may have nightmares.
- Complaints of headaches, stomach pains, or other health problems.
- Often feel sad after using the internet or a phone without any clear reason.
- Becoming unusually secretive, especially about online activities.
- Suddenly displaying aggressive behavior or a sudden outburst of anger.
What should parents do when a child is being bullied?
If you know your child is being bullied, you can take the following steps to help them:
Step 1: Listen to your child with an open and calm attitude: You need to talk to the child more often, patiently listening to them share about what happened in class or at school rather than pushing them to state the cause. Solving the problem early is good, but the child will not easily tell you that they are being bullied because they are still afraid.
Step 2: Educate the child about bullying: When the child recognizes bullying behaviors and is willing to open up to you, you should show a trusting and encouraging attitude. Then the child will know that what they are going through is not their fault; and parents will do everything possible to help them.
Step 3: Contact the teacher or the school: Neither the child nor the parents necessarily have to face the bully themselves, because bullying itself is a major problem. You should find out whether the school has policies or regulations to handle bullying, including both direct and online bullying.
Step 4: Always be by your child's side and support them. The presence of a parent by their side is very important for helping the child cope with the impact of being bullied. Ensure that your child knows they can talk to you at any time and reassure them that things will get better.
Being the bullied child is a serious issue that requires attention and timely addressing. By listening, trusting, and supporting your child, you can help them overcome these difficulties. Addressing school violence is not only the responsibility of parents; you should contact the school to help create a safe environment for your child and for other children as well. Parental involvement is the key to helping your child feel loved and more confident in facing every challenge in life.
