We're Not Gonna Take It! Banish The Bullies

Help your child through the toughest aspect of school life

- Penny Lewis

 

Bullying can take place everywhere – including in schools. Hurtful and persistent bullying can create major problems for children.

It can lead to reduced interest in learning, self-harming or dropping out of school entirely. Schools understand this and most have zero tolerance towards bullying.

Signs that your child might be bullied

There’s no sure-fire formula, but if your child becomes withdrawn, anti-social, gets angry more quickly than usual, arrives home late and leaves home early for no apparent reason, tries to avoid certain classes or has deteriorating grades, it’s possible he or she is being bullied. Even though there may be other explanations or if your child exhibits only some of these behaviours, it is important to check it out.

What should you do?

The main thing is to not ignore the signs. Take action! You can start by asking your child how school is going or more directly, if someone is giving them a hard time. If you do not feel able to do this yourself, ask a sibling, family friend or relative to help. You may not get a straight answer immediately, but by asking, you are showing your child you’ve noticed something is wrong and that you care. Approach the school (confidentially if necessary) – the best contact is the school guidance counsellor or your child’s dean.