Unfortunately despite the numerous anti-bullying campaigns in
the media and the national curriculum, bullying is still a
problem that faces a large number of our children.
With the development of technologies (such as text messaging,
and social media sites) bullying is no longer confined
to the playground. Cyberbullying has hit the headlines
over the last year and there have been numerous campaigns and
initiatives run by the likes of BBC’s Radio 1 to highlight the
issues of the problem.
Cyberbullying is when a victim is
abused over the internet or via text messages and
can be equally as damaging and upsetting for children as physical
bullying.
Children are very good at hiding their feelings which means that
a victim can be hard to spot.
Signs to look for
You should look out for the tell tale signs like:
- not wanting to go to school
- losing dinner money
- mood swings
- unexplained cuts and bruises
If you feel like your child is being bullied
Speak to his/her
school and ask them to monitor the situation, the
teachers will have experience in dealing with bullying and may be
able to suggest the best course of action.
It is important not to get angry with the
school they may not be aware of the situation just as you may not
have been. Agree with the school on what action should be taken and
keep a record.
In most cases of bullying amongst peers the school will deal
with the problem and tend to have their own initiatives to combat
the issue.