[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/recognize-signs-bullying-whether-child-bullied#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/recognize-signs-bullying-whether-child-bullied","headline":"Recognize the Signs of Bullying and Whether Your Child Is Being Bullied","name":"Recognize the Signs of Bullying and Whether Your Child Is Being Bullied","description":"Instead of enjoying childhood, millions of school children today are spiraling into despair due to bullying. For some, like 11-year-old Michael Morones of North Carolina, the pain becomes too much to bear \u2013 and suicide seems like the only option. In January, Michael attempted suicide after peers bullied him for...","datePublished":"2014-02-04","dateModified":"2020-10-16","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/author\/charlesullman#Person","name":"Charles R. Ullman & Associates","url":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/author\/charlesullman","identifier":7,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b1be1fb990426716ccc017175b6aa0896e4c2f7f629307d9491d2bf729b1cd81?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b1be1fb990426716ccc017175b6aa0896e4c2f7f629307d9491d2bf729b1cd81?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Charles R. Ullman & Associates","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/logo.png","url":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/logo.png","width":310,"height":78}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Teenagers-bullying-a-boy.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Teenagers-bullying-a-boy.jpg","height":492,"width":348},"url":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/recognize-signs-bullying-whether-child-bullied","about":["Domestic Violence"],"wordCount":785,"keywords":["Raleigh Divorce Lawyer & Family Law Specialists"],"articleBody":"Instead of enjoying childhood, millions of school children today are spiraling into despair due to bullying. For some, like 11-year-old Michael Morones of North Carolina, the pain becomes too much to bear \u2013 and suicide seems like the only option.In January, Michael attempted suicide after peers bullied him for liking the television show \u201cMy Little Pony.\u201d Even though the show has gained a huge male audience \u2013 called\u00a0Bronies\u00a0\u2013 and has even inspired a\u00a0film documentary about the phenomenon, Michael was tormented for being a fan. Although he survived the suicide attempt, Michael suffered severe brain damage and remains hospitalized. If he lives, his family will face ongoing medical expenses and unimaginable sorrow. Please join Charles R. Ullman & Associates\u00a0and consider\u00a0donating to a fund dedicated to Michael\u2019s recovery.Parents Don\u2019t Always KnowUnfortunately, parents aren\u2019t always aware that their children are being targeted by bullies. Experts say kids often hide the fact that they are being bullied because they feel helpless and may want to handle the situation on their own to regain their sense of control. Others don\u2019t tell because they fear retaliation or rejection from their peers, or are simply humiliated and don\u2019t want anyone else to know. Like other victims of abuse, bullied children also may not feel that anyone will understand their circumstances, or even care.According to the\u00a02008-2009 School Crime Supplement, adults were notified in only one-third of bullying cases that occurred on school property or in school-related activities.Warning Signs of BullyingBecause children can be so good at masking their anguish, it\u2019s important to look for red flags that may indicate bullying, such as:Behavioral changesUnexplained injuriesLost or damaged clothing or other possessionsPhysical symptoms such as headaches and stomachachesFaking sickChanges in eating habits\/weight gain or lossInsomnia or nightmaresPoor academic performance or test scoresWithdrawal from activities he or she used to enjoyDecreased self-esteemSelf-destructive behaviors, such as running awayTalking about suicide or self-harmSome Kids Are More Likely to Be TargetsUnfortunately, certain types of children are more prone to being bullied than others. The\u00a0U.S. Department of Health and Human Services\u00a0has determined that a key component in evaluating whether a situation can be deemed bullying is that there is an imbalance of power in the relationship between the bully and the child who is being bullied.That imbalance of power often occurs among children who are:Perceived somehow as \u201cdifferent,\u201d such as being overweight or underweight, disabled, not trendy or simply the new kid at schoolSeen as weak or unable to defend themselvesAnxious, depressed or shySocially isolatedDo not mix well with others, such as by annoying them or antagonizing themLGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender)What You Can Do to Stop BullyingYou can\u2019t always be around to protect your children from bullies. But you can equip them with tools they can use to try to navigate the problem. In some cases, it is worthwhile to allow children the chance to work through a situation on their own.For example, you could:Discuss with your child how to firmly say \u201cStop!\u201d when the bullying begins.Talk about ways to use humor to break the tension, if appropriate.Suggest ways to get away from the situation if other methods don\u2019t work, such as walking away or staying near adults or other kids. Bullies are less likely to act if a large group of people are around to witness it.Encourage your child to report the bullying to an adult they trust. Be sure to assure them that they are not tattling or being a wimp for telling someone else. Most importantly, tell them it\u2019s essential for them to contact an adult or police officer if they are being threatened with a weapon.Because your children may not volunteer that they are being bullied, you also can have short, periodic \u201ccheck-in\u201d sessions with them to give them a chance to tell you what\u2019s going on. Don\u2019t make it a formal inquisition or put them on the spot. Instead, ask general questions about whether they see bullying at their school, what types of kids get bullied and if they have ever known anyone who has been bullied.\u00a0 If your gut tells you that they are holding something back, then you can gently prod them to tell you about their experiences. If they get agitated, back off. But keep your eye closely on the situation, especially if you see warning signs pop up.Enough is enough. It\u2019s time to help kids learn to love who they see in the mirror."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Recognize the Signs of Bullying and Whether Your Child Is Being Bullied","item":"https:\/\/www.charlesullman.com\/recognize-signs-bullying-whether-child-bullied#breadcrumbitem"}]}]