If you suspect that your child is being bullied, either physically or emotionally, it is very important that you do not delay in addressing the issue. As we have seen in the news, bullying can have a tragic effect on your child if it is not recognized and stopped as soon as possible.
The first thing that you should do when you notice signs of bullying is to talk with your child. They may feel ashamed or angry so it is important to let them know that you care and will do whatever you can to help. Begin by discussing school and friends with them and then ask more in-depth questions. Once you find out more information about the bullying, you should take the following steps:
–Discuss the different options that your child has. This could include your child being more assertive, avoiding certain students or places, or asking the school for assistance.
-Do NOT contact the bully’s parents. This often leads to more complex problems that you want to avoid. Instead, contact the school and let them handle the bullying and take the steps that they feel are necessary in order to end the bullying.
–Take notes and/or pictures of any injuries that your child received as a result of the bullying, or print out any evidence from the Internet if your child is being cyberbullied.
-If the bullying persists, contact the police immediately.
If your child does not admit that he or she is being bullied, but you still suspect that something is going on, try discussing the issue with their teacher. It is better to be safe than sorry since bullying can take a turn for the worse very quickly.
If you have questions about bullying or cyberbullying in South Carolina, contact us at 843.277.6053.