How do you know if your child is being bullied?

We often hear a lot about bullying at schools, but forget that bullying in childcare is more common than most people think. Perhaps you have had your child’s ear bitten or pulled in pre-school. Maybe she/he was isolated during playtime or teased and beaten. The truth of the matter is that these aggressive behaviors can also manifest in young children in childcare.

According to a research by Montreal University, aggression in children can start in the first year of birth and peak between two and four years. That means that your child might be a victim of pre-school or childcare bullying. It also means that your child might as well be the bully. In both cases, parents must learn to recognize elements of bullying and curtail it as early as possible before it grows into an uncontrollable monster later in life.

What should you do if you suspect that your child is being bullied?

In normal circumstances, childcare administrators will deal with cases of bullying among the children.  But, the only problem is that only parents of the offending kids are involved while leaving out the parents of the victimized children.  Many children prefer to remain silent when bullied. However, there are always some signs to look out for when you suspect that your kid is being bullied.

Here are some signs to look for:

• Physical marks, scrapes, cuts and bruises that your child is unable to explain
• Torn cloths, damaged books, toys or electronic gadgets or lost possessions
• The child refuses to go to school
• The child refuses to ride in the school bus (if available)
• The child becomes withdrawn, evasive and lonely
• The child suddenly loses self-confidence, appears sad and moody.
• The child’s behavior changes unexpectedly. A remarkable change in eating habits as well
• Poor quality of sleep
• Hungry when comes home
• Sudden decline in academic grades
• Complains about certain kid in school

If you have noticed that your child is not their normal self, the best thing is to find out at once what could be the problem. Remember, your child is not always going to say that he/she is being bullied.

Here, communication is important in case you notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms.  Let your child know that you can solve his/her problem, and that they should not blame themselves for what might have happened.

If your child is not forthcoming with what is bothering them, ask leading questions like, “did someone bite you?”, can you please tell me who hurt you?” etc.

Once you establish that there is a problem, set up a meeting with the caregiver or teacher to discuss the issue.

On your side, you can equip your child with skills on how to cope with bullies. For instance, you can tell them to stand up to the bully and look back at them in the eye.   Also, encourage your child to report any case of bullying to the teacher or any adult around.

Childcare in Albany is a great option for families with busy schedules.  It is simply very important to be aware of any changes in habits or patterns with your children.

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