What is bullying?
“Behaviour by an individual or a group, usually repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual either physically or emotionally”.
What to look out for ...
Something about your child's behavour may alert you to the fact that he or she is being bullied.
Children who are being bullied at school may:
- be unwilling to go to school, feel ill in the mornings (headaches, tummy aches)
- come home regularly with clothes or belongings damaged or missing (clothes, pencil cases, books)
- have unexplained bruising, cuts, scratches
- become distresed, anxious, withdrawn, lack confidence, look listless and sad
- have no friends, never want to invite a friend home or go to parties
- stop eating
- cry themselves to sleep or have nightmares, especially on Sundays or at end of holidays
- bedwetting
- refuse to talk about what is wrong or about school
- become aggressive and unreasonable, or bully siblings or other friends
- give improbable excuses for any of the above
What to do now ...
If you have spotted either the physical, behaviour or psychological sign that your child is being is being bullied there are various things you can do:
- ask your child to talk about their worries - is something bothering them? on their mind?
- listen to what your child says - don't dismiss their fears - let them talk freely
- take what your child says seriously and talk it through so you know the facts
- don't promise not to tell anyone
- always reassure your child that you love them and you are going to help
- talk to someone you can trust about your own views and feelings
- arrange to meet your child from school if this is when the problem is happening
- talk and work with the school: make an appointment to speak to the class teacher/headteacher