6 Warning Signs Of Bullying In Kids That You Should Know

We as humans have a tendency to be violent and showcase power to everyone around us. And to everyone’s surprise, these qualities are not born overnight, rather they start developing right from childhood, simply because kids don’t have a proper understanding of what is right and what is wrong. When talking about bullying in children, it generally starts when the kids are young, but can develop some serious issues later in life. Before we proceed with the top 6 warning signs of bullying in kids, let’s understand the term bullying.

What is Bullying?

Bullying can be defined as a way of showcasing power that is generally achieved through a temporary status of superiority over a group of children, and in most cases a particular child. However, the family role plays a crucial factor in shaping the child and their personality. In the majority of the cases, it has been observed that kids who turn out to be bullies come from dysfunctional families, where both the parents are often seen fighting and arguing, and sometimes even engaging in physical fights. Hence, kids from such families turn out to be bullies as they keep looking for different ways so that they can easily take out their anger and frustration.

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Top Warning Signs Of Bullying In Kids

1. Carefully Listen to Your Kids

One of the important signs of bullying that you cannot ignore. When a child is not able to express themselves or their pain, treat that as an alarming sign. That is why carefully listen to them and take note if your kids are saying that there has been a lot of “drama” at school or that some kids are making fun of them. After listening to them carefully, ask them to properly describe what happened and how they dealt with the situation. As a parent, try to gather as many facts as possible about the entire situation. If your child is able to find a friend in you, then continue talking to them and try to make them better with your motivational and pep talks. If possible while talking to your kids, try to suggest to them some healthy ways by which they can overcome bullying easily and effectively.

2. Study Your Child’s Health

A bullied child will showcase different medical issues. For instance, they will complain of persistent headaches, stomachaches, and other physical problems. Furthermore, other signs can also include various types of physical injuries. Apart from medical issues, kids will also display other habits such as skipping meals or binge eating. There can be a possibility that they may come home hungry because they skipped their lunch to avoid bullying. Another reason for the same situation could be that someone took away their lunch. In case you come across any such signs, take out time and talk to your child on an immediate basis.

3. Observe Sleeping Pattern of Your Child

Apart from eating and health issues, even sleeping patterns can act as an important warning sign. Other signs could include over-sleeping, crying in sleep, and even bedwetting. Today, quality and sound sleep is considered an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, make sure that you are keeping a proper check on their sleeping patterns.

4. Study Your Child’s Moods

Also, look out for your child’s mood swings. Apart from a changed physical behavior, kids will also showcase a range of different emotions. They will sometimes appear to be very anxious, clingy, and even withdrawn. They may also appear to be sad, teary, and depressed, especially after coming from school or after their regular online classes. And if the situation is not tackled properly, they may also suffer from low self-esteem, and will keep on blaming themselves for all the things happening around them. As parents, you need to communicate with your kids on a regular basis. Simply because they are very innocent and it is very easy to play with the minds of your children. Make sure that you discuss with your kid several inappropriate behaviors like running away from home, and even suicide. Be transparent and open to them about everything.

5. Keep a Check on Their Academic Performance

Poor academic performance or a sudden fall in their grades is another vital sign. Kids who are being bullied will find it difficult to focus. And gradually they will start losing interest in the same. Make it a regular habit to ask your child on a routine basis whether or not they like to go to school or attend online classes. In case you hear your child saying that they don’t like to go to school, and just hate it, find out why.

6. Watch Out for Missing Friends

As parents, it is natural that you are most likely to be familiar with your child’s best friends. Therefore, take a note and see if your child’s usual and old friends are calling your kids or not, or even inviting them over. So, you should not ignore it. You must also talk to your kids about their friends and if they answer that they have “no friends”, then treat this as a red flag and keep looking for more such signs.

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Takeaway

Therefore, these are the top 6 signs of bullying in kids. Talk to your kids and make them feel comfortable. Make sure that you are talking to them as a friend rather than a parent. Be transparent to them about everything and don’t hide anything. Also, ask them to be strong enough and report the matter to the concerned authorities. Today, when so much importance is being placed on mental health it is very important that you don’t take your kid’s mental health for granted at any cost. So, talk to them and make them emotionally and mentally stronger. To make your parenting journey smooth, you can keep yourself updated with all the parenting-related advice by following PiggyRide. At PiggyRide, we are not only making online learning simple but we are also making the parenting journey smooth and worth cherishing. Encourage your child to speak up!