An estimated 3.2 million students experience some kind of bullying each year. Approximately 160,000 teens will skip school everyday because they are being bullied. Most kids and teens will not tell their parents, teachers, friends, or siblings because they feel ashamed and afraid. Sadly to say, most parents do not see the signs, and when they do, it can be too late.

To avoid catching bullying too late, make sure you stay informed and updated on the latest types of bullying.

Types of Bullying

Verbal bullying: This type of bullying is all about saying and writing mean things, teasing, name calling and even threatening to cause harm to the other child.

Social bullying: This involves spreading rumors about someone to hurt their reputation or embarrassing them in public.

Physical bullying: This involves hitting, spitting, kicking, pushing, and pinching, taking things from the person, and even making rude gestures.

Cyber bullying: Social media is everywhere; many school age children have their own social media account, and so many kids are being threatened, humiliated, and harassed. Kids are using these social media platforms to bully others over emails, instant messaging, cell phones, and even posting rumors and pictures on social media for everyone to see. It includes even hacking someone’s site to post photos and spreading false information about that person.

Signs to Look For if You Suspect Your Child is Being Bullied

1. Your child comes home with any kind of injuries that you know they did not have when they went to school. Kids get skinned knees and elbows all the time, but coming home with a black eye, bloody nose, or bruises on their body is a big sign.
2. Items coming up missing, such as books, electronics, jewelry and clothing.
3. Feeling sick a lot more, saying that they have a headache, or that their stomach hurts, so they don’t have to go to school.
4. Difficulty sleeping or having frequent nightmares.
5. Kids that are being bullied will have a decline in their grades, because they don’t want to go to school.
6. Social avoidance. You might notice that your child’s friends are not coming around like they used to, or your child doesn’t want to go to another child’s birthday party.
7. Changes in personality. Your child may have once been confident and outgoing, but now is now very shy and self-conscious. They may even become depressed and/or anxious.
8. Self harm. This is one of the most important signs to look for. If your child starts to display a lack on interest in their life, and they start to take an interest in knives, guns, or any other kind of weapon, or starts talking about suicide, you need to address the situation right away.
9. Decreased self esteem and feeling helpless.
10. Emotional reactions. If you notice that your child flinches or cries when you raise your voice to them because maybe they weren’t listening, but they have never reacted like that before, it could be a sign that this is happening at school.

These are just the general warning signs of bullying, and every child is different, so pay close attention to how your child is behaving and reacting around certain things and settings.

Article written by Jessica Christian, blogger for Safe Harbor International Ministries

References:
https://www.stompoutbullying.org/get-help/parents-page/tip-sheet-signs-your-child-being-bullied
https://www.rd.com/advice/parenting/bullying-signs/