My name is LaShondra Manning, and I am a counselor specializing in teen and “tween” patients. I am pursuing my doctorate in order to offer my patients the best possible therapy experience, and I have had the chance to examine a variety of unique subjects throughout the course of my studies, including bullying.
The odds are likely that any given child is prone to bullying, making useful information on this growing epidemic vital for both parents and children. Bullying, like our culture, has grown more advanced and we must stay on top of it to keep it minimized; the more parents know about bullying; the more they can educate our children.
Physical bullying – includes any form of unwanted touching at all and examples include:
• Kicking, hitting, or shoving.
• Pushing a child out of a line in order to get that child into trouble.
• Pushing a child out of the way to be first.
• Sticking a foot out and tripping a child.
• Knocking an object out of a child’s hand.
• Kicking and prodding through the back of a chair.
• Pulling an odd strand of hair or poking a child to make him or her jump.
• Slamming doors in a child’s face.
Other forms of bullying:
• Taking a child’s belongings and taunting the child while he or she tries to get it back.
• Knocking items off a child’s desk so that he or she will get into trouble.
• Drawing on school school property and blaming it on others.
• Taking and damaging or destroying other children’s belongings.
• Name calling and teasing.
• Deliberately ignoring someone trying to get their attention.
• Deliberately and pointedly ostracizing another child from games or activities.
Facilitating Improvement and Management of Bullying
- Be specific when asking your children if they are being bullied. For example, you will need to ask if anyone has been pushing or shoving them, upsetting them and being nasty to them or hitting or kicking them.
- Remember when questioning your child that bullies don’t actually say, ‘Now I am going to bully you.’ Your child may not realize that the torment they are suffering is bullying.
- While it may seem like a good idea, don’t go into your child’s school and confront the bullies. This will cause your child’s peers to laugh and tease your child for being a “baby,” tattletale,” or other names and will generally make bullying even worse.
- If you are going to talk to the teachers about your child’s bullying, make sure to do this in private, without your child being present.
- If the situation continues despite numerous attempts to correct it or gets completely out of control, remember that the option of home education is always available as an alternative.
Bullying information taken from: Jackson, L. (2002). Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome: A User Guide to Adolescence. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Any questions? Give us a call and make an appointment with one of our talented counselors at (972) 234-6634
Tags:
