Bullying can ruin more than just a day at school. Students who are continually harassed can become depressed and develop low self-esteem. In extreme cases, some have even committed suicide. These days, the Internet and cell phones have taken bullying to a new level. Bullies sometimes harass their victims online or by sending them intimidating text messages. As a parent, there are things you can do if you feel your child or teen is being bullied at school or in cyberspace. The first step is to find out if your child is being bullied.
How to spot bullying
Not all students tell their parents or teachers that they are being bullied, which is why it’s important for adults to recognize the warning signs. A student who is being bullied at school might:
• Try to avoid going to school, riding the school bus, or walking to and from school.
• Show signs of depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.
• Come back from school with bruises, torn clothing or damaged personal belongings such as books or backpacks.
• If you detect any of these signs, you should talk to your child about it and consider speaking with teachers or counselors at school.
What to do (and not to do) if your child is being bullied
Bullying can be a traumatic experience, not just for the victims but also for the parents who might feel angry and powerless. Parents should be careful not to worsen the situation by letting their emotions get the best of them.
To address bullying, you should:
• Talk to your child in detail about any incidents of bullying.
• Show empathy.
• Control your emotions and protective instincts.
• Report incidents of bullying to school officials.
To avoid worsening the situation, you should not:
• Criticize your child for being bullied.
• Instigate physical reprisals.
• Contact the parents of the student who harassed your child.
Cyber-bullying
Cyber-bullying consists of the use of technology to harass others. It can include intimidating or malicious messages sent by e-mail, text or by harassing others on social media websites. Although cyber-bullying is not a physical form of bullying, it can be equally damaging to the victim.
To deal with cyber bullying, you should:
• Tell your children not to reply to intimidating messages.
• Record harassing or intimidating messages or images as proof.
• Notify school officials.
• Contact the police if the cyber-bullying includes threats of violence, extortion or a hate crime.
For more information about bullying visit Stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov.
