Warning Signs of Bullying

Is your child being bullied?

Your child may not directly tell you that they are being bullied but may display other symptoms such as headaches, irritability or anxiety.  If your child's behavior is out of character and you suspect that they are being bullied, it may help to talk to them about:

• their progress with school work
• friends at school
• what they do at lunchtimes and breaktimes
• any problems or difficulties they are facing

If you suspect your child is being bullied, it may help to talk to your child’s teacher.

Is your child a bully?

Watch for warning signs that your child might be engaging in bullying behavior. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Has my child ever been accused of being a bully at school or elsewhere?
• Has my child gotten into trouble for fighting (physically or verbally) with other children at school?
• Does my child become easily frustrated when he does not get his way? Is my child defiant or oppositional?
• Who are my child's friends? How does my child interact with   others? Have I witnessed my child with other children? Is she dominant or aggressive?
• What does my child do with spare time? What are my child's hobbies?
• Does my child speak about other children as "stupid" or use other negative terms to describe others? Does my child talk about certain children "deserving" bad things to happen to them or showing little concern for others in bad situations?