Do you suspect that your child is being bullied at school? Or perhaps you suspect that your child is the one doing the bullying. No matter which side of the equation that you fall into, the effects of bullying can have serious consequences.
It’s crucial that you educate yourself on bullying, its effects, and how you should act. Rather than dismissing bullying as something that all kids go through, you should take it very seriously. The faster that you take action, the better. Here are some of the most important things that you should know about bullying.
Bullies Are Often Who You Least Expect
There are many misconceptions that bullies are often kids who are loners or struggle socially in school. However, statistics show that most bullies are often liked and adored by their peers.
In many cases, bullies don’t pick on others to feel better about themselves but to get more attention. Humans aren’t much different from animals at the end of the day. Picking on others establishes a pecking order.
Bullying is a form of establishing dominance within a group. Bullies are often seeking power.
Bullying Can Lead To Problems With The Law
If you suspect that your child may be bullying others, you should take it very seriously. Bullying can lead to criminal charges if it escalates far enough.
It’s not unheard of for young children to resort to desperate measures as a result of being bullied. Some children have even taken their own lives as a result of the damages caused by cruel peers.
If you don’t want to stop your child bullying others out of morality, then at least minimally put an end to it out of fear of the law.
Bullying Can Affect Your Health
Emotions can take form physically. When someone is under persistent stress, it can start to affect their overall well-being. Children who suffer from bullying may have problems sleeping, concentrating, and even eating.
Over time it can start to have serious consequences on their physical health. So, before you assume that bullying only hurts feelings, think again.
Victims Often Don’t Tell Anyone About It
A lot of parents don’t worry about their child being bullied in school. They assume that if anything were going on that their child would tell them about it. However, the truth is that victims often keep quiet.
There are a variety of reasons why they keep it a secret. However, typically it’s out of fear that the situation will escalate. They keep it a secret out of fear that they may be teased or the bully will get angry with them for taking action. Therefore, it’s important not to only rely on your child to tell you about any bullying but to look for the signs.
To read more on topics like this, check out the kids category.
