Parents: What You Need To Know
Types of bullying
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Physical: hitting, punching, shoving, spit on
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Verbal: calling names, teasing, laughing, hurtful words, manipulation, subject of rumors
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Being excluded on purpose, isolation, ignoring, damaging property, stealing books/homework
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Cyber bullying: posting embarrassing pictures/videos on social media, mean comments on social media, forums, texts, apps.
Warning signs of bullying
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Keeping to themselves more often
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Unexplainable injuries
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Frequently complaining of being sick or having headaches
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Skipping meals
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Declining grades
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Avoiding social situations
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Depression and/or anxiety
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Talking about harming themselves
How to help your child if they are bullied
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Drop what you’re doing and listen to them and believe them
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Give ideas on how to respond to bullies
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Ask them what they want to feel safe
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Assure them that it’s not their fault
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Get the school involved ASAP
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DO NOT tell them to ignore it or physically fight back
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DO NOT blame your child for being bullied
What to do if your child is the bully
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Let them firmly know that bullying will not be tolerated
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Set boundaries/rules and stick to them
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Try to figure out the root cause of their bullying (some do it to “fit in” or they act out because something else is going on)
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Ask the school to help/get involved