According to a May 2011 survey published by the United
States Department of Education, approximately 8,166,000 students between the
ages of 12 and 18 reported that they were being bullied in school; this number
translates to about 31.7% of American students in that age group. The effects
of bullying have been emphasized to parents, educators and childcare providers
as media coverage of teen suicides resulting from unchecked bullying increases.
In today’s world, children require protection from each other, as well as
reprehensible adult influence. Fortunately, there are a few warning signs that
could indicate that your child is the victim of schoolyard bullies.
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Unexplained Injuries or Damages to Property – When items
go missing or turn up broken, clothing and other property is torn or damaged,
or your child shows clear signs of physical injury but lacks a plausible
explanation for these occurrences, there’s a very strong chance that he’s being
bullied and trying to hide it from you. Because seeking help for bullying is
often considered a sign of weakness, some kids will go to great lengths to keep
their plight under wraps.
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Displays an Aversion to School – A child that
was once happy and eager to attend classes but suddenly exhibits a strong
aversion to school, attempts to fake illnesses as a means of staying home, or puts
up a fight every morning may be trying to avoid school because he’s trying to
avoid being bullied there. Most kids show at least a mild aversion to school
from time to time; however, should your child seem genuinely afraid or angry
about going to his classes each morning, there may be more to the story than a
typical childhood distaste for school.
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Difficulty Sleeping or Nightmares – One of the
most common signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, which is not uncommon in
children that are severely bullied, is difficulty sleeping. Sleep disruptions
and nightmares should be viewed as a cause for concern when they become a
regular occurrence; the occasional bad dream is simply par for the childhood
course, but recurring nightmares could indicate a serious problem.
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Lowered Academic Performance – Kids that
are the victims of bullying may experience a drop in grades or show other
indications of a lowered academic performance, either as a result of being
actively distracted from their studies by bullies or because they’re
experiencing symptoms of depression or post-traumatic stress disorder that
makes it difficult for them to focus. When grades rapidly plummet, parents
should always address the situation; however, if there are other indicators of
bullying, kids should certainly not be punished if their studies are suffering.
.
Loss of Interest in Hobbies or Activities – When a child
that was once eager to join in activities, extra-curricular sports or after
school programs abruptly shows a lack of interest or even a distaste for those
hobbies, it could indicate that he’s being bullied by other participants and
wants to distance himself from the situation as much as possible.
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Isolation – It’s not unheard of for tweens and teens to
barricade themselves in their rooms, eschewing the company of their parents in
favor of talking to their friends; it’s so common, in fact, that it’s become
something of a societal cliché. That being said, if your child is isolating
himself from everyone, and doesn’t seem to have many friends that he’s
interacting with, that isolation could be an indicator of bullying or
harassment.
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Self-Harming Behavior – The most
drastic, and perhaps the most upsetting, indicator of bullying is self-harming
behavior in your child. Cutting, eating disorders and risky behavior, like
running away from home, are all classic signs of bullying or abuse; though they
may seem extreme and overwhelming, they’re not an indicator that all hope is
lost. A child exhibiting these signs is likely to require some treatment, and
may need to be removed from their current school as a protective measure.
Fear of retribution, a reluctance to appear helpless,
and humiliation at their plight may leave kids reluctant to notify an authority
figure, or even to admit to being bullied in many cases. The 2008 to 2009
School Crime Supplement indicates that roughly two-thirds of bullying cases go
unreported by the victims or their peers, so uncovering the truth may require a
bit of finesse. Aggressive questioning can feel like an interrogation to an
already victimized child, so parents should keep their tone open, calm and
non-judgmental during conversations about the subject.
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