Neighbor News
Bullying Warning Signs
As we finish Bullying Awareness Month, check out warning signs to look for.
Bullying is an ongoing concern for parents, care givers and teachers. How to tell if your child is being bullied can be difficult, as bullying can take on many forms. The act is a deliberate imbalance of power; and can be physical, emotional, sexual or verbal.
Having a working knowledge of warning signs is essential for supportive parenting. If your child has some of the warning signs below, it is not a guarantee that they are being bullied. Open and honest dialogue with your children will provide more insight into the potential causes of some warning signs.
Below are a variety of warning signs that could signify your child is the victim of bullying:
- Noticing your child has damaged belongings; this can span from clothing, to book bags, to text books, etc.
- Unexplained physical injuries like bruises or cuts
- Tendency to isolate from friends and peers
- An increase in anxiety or fear related to attending school and often will explore opportunities to miss school (i.e. Excuses, faking sick, etc.)
- Changes in sleeping or eating patterns; suffers from frequent nightmares, poor appetite
- Appears sad, upset or angry when returning from school
- Decrease in academic achievement
- Health concerns; most often frequent stomach aches, headaches, etc.
