In this "Child Protection Week" (27th May - 2nd June) I have decided to focus on bullying, a very real problem in our schools and amongst our children and teens. It can have far reaching and even devastating consequences.

Bullying is no longer just the the stereotypical bigger, thug like child beating up on a smaller, vulnerable child in order to taking his lunch money. Bullying happens in a number of areas: verbal, physical, social and cyber. Verbal bullying happens when a child is called names, teased, threatened; homophobic or racist remarks are made about them. In general the way the victim is spoken to or about makes him/her feel miserable or bad about themselves. When a child is hurt or their property stolen or damaged physical bullying has taken place.

Social bullying is the harder one to identify, even so it exists. The victim is often not present and it happens when lies are told about a person, rumours about the person are spread, a person is intentionally ignored. Others are often encouraged to ostracise the individual.

The more recent form of bullying is cyber bullying rising out of societies greater use of and reliance of digital technology. It can include harassment via a mobile phone, a slanderous personal website or the exclusion of someone from social networking sites. This can happen in public, or private where only the victim might be aware of it.

What we do know about bullying is the following:

- A small percentage of children who are being bullied report it

- A high percentage of school children, both primary and high, experience it

- Bullies often repeat their bullying behaviour and so pose a serious threat

- Sometimes students are bullied because of their refusal to engage in common sexual practices

 

Bullying has serious implications for our children and we as parents or adults working with children cannot afford to ignore it or reports of it from our children. Other signs that a child may be being bullied are:

- Changes in sleeping or eating patterns

- Mood swing

- Feels ill in the morning

- Becomes withdrawn or starts stammering

- Becomes aggressive and unreasonable

- Begins to target siblings

- Continually ‘loses’ money or starts stealing

- Has unexplained bruises, cuts, scratches

- Comes home with missing or damaged belongings or clothes

- Comes home hungry.

- Doesn’t want to go to school

- Changes their route to school or are frightened of walking to school

- School grades begin to fall.

- Changes in groups or friends that they associate with

- Sudden or drastic changes in interests or sports

 

Please note that it is seldom that only one of these symptoms would exist and the same symptom may be due another issue, one must not jump to conclusions.

 

Reference: http://www.noahcommunity.org/child-protection-week-campaign/#