Teasing And Bullying
Growing up years and transitional stages can be difficult and a testing period for teenagers. One of the most common problems teenagers or even younger children face is Bullying. But it’s not that every kid goes through it. It’s only a selected few. Kids who are vulnerable and also the ones who do not retaliate or stand up against bullies are commonly victimized.
So what exactly is bullying? Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.
When it takes place once in a way then there is nothing to worry about. But when it happens repeatedly, then it poses a problem for the child.
Especially children whose parents have transferable jobs are easy targets of bullying. It’s because these kids have to start right from scratch. They have to join new schools, make new friends and they have to get adjusted to a new environment. They are vulnerable as they do not have a strong support system from the start like the others.
Also being different in origin, from the rest of the group can make you an easy target. Having a different accent, or if the kid originates from a different state or country.
The first sign that a child is being bullied is he or she would demonstrate withdrawal symptoms. They would become uncommunicative and would find ways to skip school. Skipping school poses a huge problem as then grades get affected.
Today most institutions are also considering and taking serious steps to fight bullying. They could also go an extra mile by having talk sessions on bullying in schools and provide a platform to students and teachers to address their problems. By discussing this topic in school, bullies would also hesitate to engage in the act.
Many young kids who are victims of bullying often think that it’s their fault. They should be made to understand that it’s not their fault, but the problem lies with bullies as they suffer from insecurities, low self confidence and hence they pick up on people. When a child understands this she or he would regain confidence and feel better about himself or herself.
Whether a child is bullied or not, don’t you think it’s advisable to equip him or her mentally on how to deal with bullying. So when the child is caught up in such a situation, he or she would know how to respond to it.
Encouraging the child to speak about the problem is the first step. The child should be able to confide the problem to the parent. And he or she should not be rebuked for not being able to deal with the situation. It’s a delicate period for the child. Parents have to be empathetic. This would open up doors for the child to address the problem and pave a path towards solving it.
Normally ignoring is the best means to deal with the situation. When the bullies see that their actions are not having an effect on the victim, they would gradually stop harassing. But if it does not stop, then the problem should be addressed to the class teacher and both can work together to find out ways to tackle the problem.
Approaching a counselor is the last resort. Initially the child may be hesitant to approach a counselor, but with a little persuasion he or she would definitely agree. Counseling would give the child confidence. Apart from gaining knowledge on how to deal with bullying or teasing they would also receive stress relieving tips whenever they feel down.
Nearly every kid goes through bullying and teasing which is absolutely normal. But when it becomes repetitive then it poses a threat to the child’s future. It’s then we need to find ways to tackle the problem. Bullying is not to be taken lightly as it has severe effects on a child’s psyche. Timely intervention can help in dealing with the problem effectively.
I’m Diana Pinto mother of a three-year-old son. I’m a housewife and a blogger. My interests include listening to music, dancing and now of course writing. I’ve developed an interest in writing recently and hope to inspire people and bring a change through it. I blog at Diana’s musings.
