
Spotting the signs of bullying and strategies to deal with it
Discovering that your child is being bullied is a major worry and it’s understandably distressing to find out that there’s a problem. In this article Dr Fadwa gives tips on how to spot signs of bullying and strategies to deal with it.
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Dubaimums
Signs of bullying
• Are there changes in eating habits? Not just losing weight or eating less, but also eating more than usual.
• Complaining of physical pain e.g. headaches, stomach aches, or tiredness.
• Showing reluctance to go to school.
• Does he/she show any signs of physical abuse e.g. bruises?
• Changes in sleeping patterns, e.g. over sleeping or disrupted sleep/insomnia.
Dos
• Stay calm and listen without showing judgment, or getting angry/upset.
• Reassure them by explaining that bullying is about the bully having a problem not themselves.
• Go through the steps he/she can take on their own before, mum or dad step in.
Don’ts
• Don’t hijack your child’s problem, as you will foster dependence.
• Don’t compare your child to yourself when you were his/her age.