Parents

The first and most important thing you need to know is, it is your responsibility to insure your childs safety at school. Insuring school officials are doing all they can to prevent harassment and having a warm and open home for your child to come home to. Bullying is a deep rooted problem and changing it starts at home. Reading this is the first step to recognizing any bullying challenges within or even outside of school.

Signs your child is a victim

" Have your childs grades dropped?

" Have he/she recently been isolating themselves from you?

" Have he/she been isolating themselves from friends?

" Making excuses and/or Refusing to go to school

" Pattern changes in their normal attitudes

" You have found them using drugs or alcohol

What do you do?

" Talk to your child and focus on them. Be supportive and gather information about the bullying. Ask questions to describe what happened, who was involved and how each happened.

" Never tell your child to "ignore" the bullying. What the child may "hear" is that your going to ignore it. If the child were able to simply ignore it, he or she is would not have told you about it. Often, trying to ignore bullying allows it to become more serious.

" Never blame the child

" Learn as much about the bullying tactics being used and be in contact with those who can help

" Seek help from your child's teacher or the school guidance counselor. Most bullying occurs on playgrounds, in lunchrooms, and bathrooms, on school buses or in unsupervised halls.

" Help your child practice what to say to the bully so he or she will be prepared the next time.

" Help your child practice being assertive. The simple act of insisting that the bully leave him alone may have a surprising effect. Explain to your child that the bully's true goal is to get a response.

" Encourage your child and tell them that bully is wrong, not their fault, and that you are glad that they had the courage to seek help. Ask them what they thing you should do. Assure them and tell them what you will be doing.

Also...

If your child becomes withdrawn, depressed or reluctant to go to school, or if you see a decline in school performance, additional consultation or intervention may be required. A child and adolescent psychiatrist or other mental health professional can help your child and family and the school develop a strategy to deal with the bullying. Seeking professional assistance earlier can lessen the risk of lasting emotional consequences for your child.