Bullying always has been troubling, but children now face the threat of cyberbullying as well as in-person bullying. The connectivity offered by the internet and social media enables bullies to be relentless, even reaching children when they are at home and physically distant from their peers. The 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that an estimated 16 percent of high school students were electronically bullied in the 12 months prior to the survey.
Parents and caregivers can be diligent in recognizing bullying in an effort to protect children. Here are 10 signs a child may be a victim of bullying.
· Unexplained injuries
· Lost or destroyed personal belongings
· Frequently expressing not feeling well or faking illness
· Changes in eating habits
· Difficulty sleeping and experiencing nightmares
· Decreased self-esteem or feelings of helplessness
· Self-destructive behaviors like harming themselves or talking about suicide
· Fear of going to school
· Changes in school performance, including declining grades
· Asking for money or stealing money
These are some of the indicators that a child is being bullied. Bullying can occur at school or during extracurricular activities. Bullying also can occur online. Kids may hesitate or even refuse to ask for help, which means that adults may need to intervene at the first signs of bullying.
