Signs that a child is bullied

In today’s times, one of the things that parents worry about is their child being bullied in
school. According to Teens Against Bullying, bullying is different from the typical disagreements
among friends or classmates. Among the differences are (1) bullying is done intentionally, (2)
the behavior is often repeated, and (3) the students who bully usually have more power – this
includes being older, being physically bigger or stronger, having more social status, or a group
of students ‘ganging up’ on someone.
How do parents and teachers identify if a kid is being bullied?
Experts share some signs that a child is a bullying victim.
1. The child is reluctant or refuses to go to school.
2. The child complains of headaches and stomachaches more frequently than before.
3. The child exhibits sadness for a prolonged period of time.
4. The child displays uncharacteristic aggression/fighting towards his/her siblings.
5. A loss or changes in friends could be a sign of bullying. Also, reluctance or refusal to
hang-out with friends could also be a sign of bullying.
6. A change in sleeping habits, nightmares, or troubled sleep are possible indicators of
being bullied.
7. The child may also develop bedwetting.
8. A change in eating habits, some tend to eat less while others suddenly start eating
more than their usual, may be a sign of a withdrawn or anxious child being bullied at
school.
9. Crying spells or intense emotional reactions toward conversations about school,
social activities, friends, or classmates could be signs that they are holding anxiety
around those events.
10. Failing grades, especially when you know that the child is bright, could be a red flag
of the child being a victim of bullying.
Children who are bullied may appear to be anxious, clingy, or withdrawn. Often, bullied
kids lose their self-esteem resulting to low regard of themselves and/or feeling of
worthlessness. This is the case that could result to thoughts of ending one’s life. In other cases,
bullied kids may exhibit violent behaviors, which they did not show prior to being bullied.
Bullied kids may exhibit sudden or major changes in behavior that can be spotted by the
parents or the class adviser.
FIDELA L. MASLANG

Teens Against Bullying: https://www.pacerteensagainstbullying.org/bullying-defined/

Reader’s Digest: https://www.rd.com/advice/parenting/bullying-signs/

VeryWell Family: https://www.verywellfamily.com/kindergarten-bullying-signs-621007

Philippine News Agency: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1038320