In instances of bullying, parents should look for repeated patterns of changed behavior in children, such as wanting to be alone, altered personality and new eating/sleeping habits.
Look for warning signs of bullying in your child
One out of every five students reports being bullied, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics in 2019.
First off, what is bullying?
Kathleen Kropp, counselor at Holyoke Elementary School, said she talks with students about three elements of bullying.
— Bullying is a behavior that is repeated on a regular basis.
— Bullying is intentional, with a goal to harm another person.
— Bullying shows an imbalance of power.
Sometimes children and teens tell parents, teachers and other trusted adults about incidents of bullying, and sometimes they don’t. What are some warning signs that adults can look for that could potentially indicate bullying?
— The child is wanting to avoid certain people or situations.
— The child wants to be alone.
— The child seems afraid or nervous.
— There is a significant change in the child’s personality.
— The child’s physical patterns have changed, such as sleeping, eating, stomach aches, etc.
— The child is repeatedly making comments, such as, “Nobody likes me,” or “I don’t have any friends.”
— In the case of cyberbullying, the child is being secretive about his or her electronic devices.
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