3 Signs That Your Child is being Victimized by a Bully
Many of the kids who are returning to school this fall haven’t attended an actual school since March 2020. While this return is good in terms of reconnecting on a social level and regaining some normalcy, it also means that once again, parents are worried about bullies.
A single bully can do an enormous amount of damage to a child. They hit the child’s self-confidence takes can haunt your child for the rest of their life. In addition to psychological trauma, parents also worry about bullying and physical abuse.
Most kids don’t report bullying problems to their parents. Catching the early warning signs and putting together a plan of action takes a great deal of diligence, observation, and communication.
Pay Attention to Your Child’s Appearance Both Before and After School
The first sign that a child is being bullied is often changes to their clothing and overall appearance at the start of the school day versus the end. Yes, kids trade clothing and jewelry. Yes, kids rip, tear, and stain their clothing via innocent actions. However, if your child is consistently coming home looking bedraggled, or is hiding torn clothing, or constantly has items of clothing missing, it could indicate that your child has attracted a bully.
Look for Bruises, Cuts, and Scrapes
Active kids do get banged up while playing, but kids who are being bullied will often also be covered in cuts and bruises which is why you should ask how your child was injured. Not only should you pay attention to how they received the injury, but also to how they tell you about it. If the bruise was sustained while playing sports, your child will likely have an entire adventure regarding the wound. However, if they are quiet about the injury or try to hide it, it could indicate a bullying problem.
Changes in Personality
Kids’ personalities are in a constant state of flux. They go through stages of intense joy, irritation, and resistance. Sometimes these changes happen at a rapid-fire pace. What isn’t normal is for a happy, bubbly kid who likes school to go through a prolonged period of depression where they no longer want to socialize. It’s also unusual for your child to suddenly lose all interest in activities and friends that they have always loved in the past. Sudden and long-term changes often indicate a bullying problem.
If you notice signs that your child’s return to school has resulted in them being bullied, you’ll want to take a proactive stance before the situation leaves your child emotionally or physically scarred.
Early Warning Signs that Your Kid Has Encountered a Cyberbully
Social media is a great thing. Social media sites let you stay in contact with friends and family you wouldn’t otherwise see. You can connect with your community, join groups, play games, and simply shoot the breeze. It’s great.
There is a dark side to social media. The same social media sites you like to visit when you want to unwind create the perfect environment for a cyberbully to launch an attack against your child.
While it might not be possible to prevent your child from using social media sites, you can learn what signs you should watch for that will help you identify if they’re the victim of cyberbullying.
They’re Suddenly Withdrawn
Kids are always changing. They’re prone to mood swings. What they don’t normally do is completely turn their personality inside out. If you’re child has gone from being vivacious and outgoing to suddenly keeping to themselves, it’s highly possible that they’ve encountered a cyberbully.
They Start Behaving Strangely when they Get a Message
Today’s youth love their cellphones. It seems like they’re constantly on the phone. If your child starts looking sick or seems reluctant to check their messages, it could be a sign that they’re getting harassed by a cyberbully. This is especially true if the strange reactions to messages continues longer than a couple of days.
They Won’t Let you See Their Scree
Children, particularly teenagers, are notoriously gun shy about wanting to let their parents see their phone or computer screen. Younger children are different. They want their parents to see everything. If your child seems to be working overtime to make sure you don’t get a glimpse of their screen while they’re on the tablet or phone, it could be time to take action and check for a cyberbully.
Health Problems
A lack of appetite, headaches, constant upset stomachs. All of these things can indicate that you’re child is struggling to figure out how to deal with a cyberbully. Pay attention and see if the periods of bad health seem to worsen just before and after your child is on their phone/tablet/computer.