When you google the meaning of bullying, you will get" to treat someone in a cruel, insulting or threatening fashion."
When you put your mind to it imagining your child being in that situation is devastating, and I know no parent will want his child to go through that.
But whether we like it or not, there is a high chance that your child will go through this in school.
Since bullying can have many adverse effects on a child, every parent needs to know what to look out for to know if his child is being bullied at school.
However, it will make much sense to first look at some of the negative impacts bullyings can have on kids to help you know the importance of why you must look out for the signs of bullying in your child.
Effects of bullying on kids
1. Depression;
One of the most common effects bullying can have on a child is depression. Kids who are constantly bullied in school tend to feel worthless and very sad.
They begin to put all the blame on themselves, saying it is their fault for being bullied.
2. Loneliness;
When a child is bullied, loneliness is one effect that can affect him both in the long term and short.
The child will feel that no one likes him, and he will prefer being on his own. Most people who have some history of being bullied become uncomfortable with socializing, and this, in the long run, can ruin their lives.
3. Loss of interest;
Another effect bullying can have on someone is that they suddenly lose interest in everything they do.
You will realize that things they have a lot of passion for doing will suddenly not be of interest to them.
4. Decrease in academic performance;
Your child has a good record of getting good grades in school, and suddenly, you realize that the grades start dropping, and whenever you approach him to find out what is happening, he just tells you that he doesn't want to talk about it.
When you notice something like this, know that a problem at school where he is being bullied can also be a cause.
5. Violence;
When you study most the school shooting violence, you will notice that most perpetrators have some history of being bullied. Becoming extremely violent is their way of retaliating for all they have gone through.
If my memory serves me well, the Texas school shooting incident in May 2022, in which a teenager opened fire on unarmed children, was also well known for being bullied by his peers.
Since we now know the dangerous effects bullying can have on kids, I think we can now continue to identify the signs you should be on the look for to help you save your child's life from being ruined.
Signs your child is being bullied at school
1. Avoiding social situations;
If you notice your child stops hanging out with his friends or always comes up with an excuse whenever there is a social event where his peers will be present, it could also indicate that he is being bullied.
2. Your child always loses belongings;
One of the signs of your child being bullied is that his personal belongings are always missing or damaged when he returns from school.
If he comes back every day and you notice his crayons, pencils, or other belongings cannot be found in his bag. He cannot open up to you about how he misplaced all his stuff; there is a high probability of being bullied, and his property is also taken by the bullies.
3. Sudden change in self-esteem;
All of a sudden, your child is always sad and wants to be with himself can also be another sign.
It could also be that whenever he comes home from school, he is always in a depressed mood with low self-esteem.
4. Sudden drop in grades;
Is your child doing bad at school with his grades? If you notice that his grades have suddenly changed for the worse or he always doesn't want to go to school, it is a sign of a problem at school.
5. Trouble sleeping
If it is difficult to get your child to sleep every day after school, there is a high possibility that he might have been bullied in school, and the whole scene is still playing in his mind.
6. Always ill;
Headaches and stomach aches are some of the common excuses children give so that they can miss school.
This could also result from the constant stress they've been exposed to while in school.
If your child has always been complaining about having any of these illnesses, ask questions in a non-confrontational manner to know what really is the problem at school.
7. Walking with their heads down;
Does your child walk with his head down all of a sudden? If you've noticed that he does that and also no longer shares his personal opinions on subjects being discussed around him, chances are he is being bullied.
Conclusion
If you notice any of these signs, talk with your child to find out if he is being bullied at school. This can help you decide on the following line of action to help your child get back his confidence and self-worth.
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