Is your kid getting bullied?

Is your child showing reluctance to go to school? Does he make excuses like headache to avoid going to school? Does he appear nervous or scared all the time? Or is there a significant drop in his grades? Is your child getting weaker in spite of the healthy meals you packed in his lunch box? Do you feel that your child is behaving differently?
                                       

Your child is not behaving normally- is it bullying?

Kindly do not overlook these signals. These may be due to bullying and the child is not being able to handle or deal with it.

Bullying is a deliberate act or series of acts to humiliate or torment a child. There can be physical, verbal or mental ways which make the child uncomfortable, depressed or edgy. The bullying nowadays is not limited to schools. It has gone to further levels like bullying through mobile phones and via internet. It is much more than simple teasing or funny remark made out to the child.


Usually, the purpose of bullying is to have a sense of control or importance over others. Sometimes bullies do it to seek attention of others. At other times, victims of bullying also become bullies as they think it the right way to behave with weaker children or new students in the school.

There can be serious after effects of bullying on the mental as well as physical health of the victim. The child can have negative feelings and emotions because of getting bullied. He may feel left out and alone. Sometimes, the victims get depressed and lose self confidence. The victimized children therefore go through a tough time and at this point the support of teachers and parents is crucial to bring hope and confidence in the victims.

Parents can provide their love, affection and support and help their child to deal with bullying in an assertive manner. They should encourage the child to share the incident with them. It is important for the victimized child to pour out his emotions and feelings. And with the support of the parents, he can review his own feelings and trauma and deal bullying in a positive way. The parents can take following measures to deal with bullying of their child:

Listen to the child and comfort him with your love and support. Appreciate him for sharing his experience.

Educate the child that it is the bully who is on wrong side and he should not be the one feeling guilty or embarrassed about the incident                

Assurance from parents helps to fight bullying

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Help your child to be confident and assertive (not aggressive). Explain him to use such words in front of the bullies that reflect confidence.                                 

The parents can narrate their own experience of getting bullied in school and the way they dealt with it. This way the child will understand that he is not the only one and that such incident can be stopped with courage.

In case of serious incidents, it is better to report the same to the teachers and counselors in school and discuss with them to resolve the problem.

Also the incident can be brought to the notice of the parents of the bullies so that such misbehavior can be controlled.
The timely action and support of the parents is extremely essential to stop bullying and safeguard their kids from mental and physical distress.