signs to watch for if you think your child may be being bullied.
You may be unsure if your child is involved in a bullying incident. He or she could be acting as a bully, being bullied or upset because they have seen others behaving badly. If you suspect that your child is involved in bullying then look out for these signs:
- bruises
- broken or missing possessions
- becoming withdrawn – not talking, or spending more time alone
- changes in eating habits
- changes in behaviour – becoming aggressive at home
sleeping badly - complaining of headaches or stomach aches
- wetting the bed
- worrying about going to school
- suddenly doing less well at school
“He’d be upset in the morning saying he didn’t want to go. He’d think of anything to try and get out of going to school he was so unhappy.”
“He was coming home with his clothing torn, his hood missing, sometimes with bruises on him. He was often upset and started having nightmares.”
But there could be other reasons for these signs, so try to avoid jumping to conclusions. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Is there anything else bothering my child?
- Have there been changes at home like a new baby, or divorce or separation?
WATCH WEB TV SHOW: TEENAGERS AND BULLYING
Agony aunt, journalist and parenting expert Suzie Hayman joined us live online to discuss how you can support your teenager as well as cope with your own emotions if bullying becomes part of your lives. Suzie focuses on a variety of topics such as why bullying happens, signs to look out for and what you can do to support your teenager through this difficult time...
Click here to start watching the show