Personality
change--tired/withdrawn/not sleeping well
loss of appetite/crying/snaps at people
Bed wetting
Changes routines--school
route/school bus
Abusive language/hitting
out/bad temper
Late for school/leaves
school late
Cuts & bruises/damaged
uniform
Avoids certain lessons ie:
games/football
Headaches/stomach pains
Forgetfulness/flinching/easily
distracted
Books & property going
'missing'
Fear of sudden
noises/dark/physical contact
Nervousness/nail biting
REMEMBER!!
It takes a lot for a child to tell his
mum/dad that they are being bullied. Take any allegation
seriously!
Don't just say "smack them back"
or "you'll be alright" "you'll grow out of
it"
Your child is turning to you for help and
guidance but you might not have the answers,
or you don't know how to react.
Don't storm into the school and demand the
bullying stops, this could aggravate the situation.
Contact the head teacher over the phone
and express your concerns. Try to arrange a meeting
preferably after school hours but at the school. Try not
to let your child know when you'll be
going to see the head teacher as if he/she knows they
will be apprehensive of you coming and
the bully may pick up it and take advantage.
When you meet the head take a notebook and
write down anything you don't understand.
Ask the head to make a written record of
your visit (so you can refer to it if you have to
re-visit)
Tell the head what you expect to be done
about your childs welfare at school.
If the bullying persists tell the head
that you would like to meet the parents of the bully(s)
at
the school in the heads presence. Afterall, the parents
of the bully have a right to know if
their child is accused of bullying.
Many bullies will stop once their parents
are aware but if they're not told they can't help!
Last of all, encourage your child, don't
put them down by saying"if you were bigger you could
stick up for yourself" or "if you were cleverer
you wouldn't get picked on"
These phrases might be just what they are
getting bullied for.
Make them feel important, ask about their
schoolwork, pat them on the back, tell them they've
got so much to look forward to. To say "I wish I was
that good at ...... or "That's really clever to....
when I was your age/at school" wouldn't go a miss.
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