Strategies for Helping Teens Cope with Bullying
Bullying has never been a laughing matter. Kids (and adults) have been dealing with the classic abusive power imbalance since, it seems, the beginning of time. Most have survived and come out stronger for it. But a few have not, and recent extraordinary examples of that have brought a whole new level of attention to the problem of bullying, which has been taken up a notch in the Internet age of 24/7 socializing. For some, that means 24/7 bullying, and for parents it means higher stakes in helping their kids deal with the problem before it gets completely out of hand. Here are some ways a parent (or any adult) can intervene to help a bullying victim find a way out, or at least a way through, this type of peer abuse. The first strategy is simply to recognise that bullying is going on -- which is not always a simple task.
Know the Warning Signs Bullying comes in several different -sometimes interconnected -- forms, including physical, verbal and psychological. If the bullying is physical in nature, the chances of recognizing it are increased. A parent is likely to notice torn clothing, a black eye or a bloody lip that shows up on a regular basis. But even physical bullying evidence can be hidden or explained away; and psychological and verbal bullying can leave no physical evidence at all. The best way to recognize if your child is a bullying victim is to look for a wide variety of signs that, individually, may simply mean “teenager” but collectively could indicate a bullying situation. A few of these warning signs include: Unexplained anxiety, moodiness, depression Appetite loss, difficulty sleeping, teariness Sudden drop in grades or interest in school Frequent illness or health complaints Social withdrawal or isolation Seems afraid to go to school These types of signs can be cause to worry, but they can’t tell you what’s going on. To even begin to find out if your concerns are valid, you need to ask -- which can be harder than it sounds.
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