Has your child always loved school but now tries every trick in the book to keep from attending? Maybe he is being bullied. Bullying is a real threat to a child's safety and security. Learn what a bully is, why they act as they do and how to help your child cope.
Has your child always enjoyed school, but lately makes excuses because he doesn’t want to go? Do stomachaches, headaches and other mysterious ailments appear in the night or at breakfast? If so, it may be that you child is being harassed at school. Yes, he may be the victim of bullying.
Where Does Bullying Occur?
Bullying takes place in cities, small towns and rural communities. It is something that happens everywhere in the world. There are some adults that believe bullying is a part of childhood and that it’s all part of growing up. This isn’t true. Bullying is an activity that is unacceptable. All children should be able to live their lives and have fun without having to worry about their safety and security.
What is Bullying?
Bullying covers a wide range of activities. It can be the act of pushing, shoving and other physical activity, or it can be verbal threats or something as simple as being made fun of because a child wears glasses, looks different, acts different or gets either good or poor grades. Bullying is anything that takes the fun out of a child’s life or makes him feel depressed or alone. It can turn a simple event such as riding a school bus to school, going to a locker, entering the bathroom, or playing in the schoolyard frightening and scary.
Physical Bullying
Physical bullying consists of the following:
Pushing, shoving, hitting, kicking, pinching or pulling hair.
Forcing someone to do something that they know is wrong, or something that they don’t want to do.
Stealing, hiding or destroying objects that belong to someone else.
Threatening someone, even if the threats are never acted out.
Taking something that belongs to others, such as gloves, mittens, a hat, a game or any other personal belonging and not giving it back; playing keep-away with items that belong to others.
Verbal Bullying
Taunting, teasing, mocking, or insulting others.
Calling someone names, even in fun.
Giving someone the cold shoulder by not talking to them.
Spreading rumors and lies about others
Telling someone they cannot play with people of their own choosing.