How to Tell If Your Child is Being Bullied or Shunned and What to Do About It

Most kids do fine socially in school. Some run into problems with other kids and these problems usually crop up at the start of new school year. At any time during school, your child is subject to possibly being bullied and being shunned. It happens. Here are ways to tell if your child is being bullied or shunned and some solutions.

Though some kids love school, some don't. Most usually fall into a normal and healthy school routine after the first week or two of a new school year. You know your child best and you are the best person to see the telltale signs and symptoms of schoolmate bullying or classmate shunning. A parent sees their child most and knows how they behave. The child who is being bullied will be depressed. They are very unhappy and often scared to tell their parents what is going on. This may because of shame, fear or being unable to cope with their emotions. Some anger and frustration may also be shown. Your child may sulk, cry easily and become withdrawn. Look for any bruises on the face and arms. This is an evident sign of bullying. Torn clothes, missing money, missing lunch boxes, any of those things could be a sign.

Shunning is cruel and can happen. Kids may shun a classmate because of their clothes, their sports performance, their hair, their race, their personality and many other reasons. Your child will become depressed, withdrawn, may cry often and most likely will try to act like everything is alright. But you can tell something is wrong, if you pay attention to the signs. A happy child has some friends, is social and enjoys activities. They have friends over and go see friends. They call friends and friends call them.

Bullying can be deadly. Too often, kids do not tell anyone that they are being bullied. They try to handle it on their own. And sometimes, they can. More often, the bullying resorts to violence, which should never be tolerated. It is your job as a parent to find out the cause of any bruises or torn clothes and alert the teacher, the bully's parents and the police. Immediately. Do not hesitate. Too often, the bully gets away with bullying. It does not stop until attention is drawn to the seriousness of this crime. It is a crime. You may find that the bully and their parents do not respond well to being called out. Tough. The police will respond and help you to take proper action. This is not a matter to be taken lightly. One shove from a bully can end your child's life, if they hit the ground hard. Keep that in mind. A no tolerance stand must be taken with a bully. Period. No child should have to attend classes in fear. It is difficult enough to do their studies without having to worry if they will be harmed.

Shunning is an emotional weapon to a kid and it can be devastating. The scars from being shunned by classmates can carry on into adulthood. If your child is being shunned at school, find out the reason. Then deal with the problem accordingly. Your child may require extra help and attention in sports activities. Your child may need new clothes, shoes, a new hair style and all of this will help esteem. Help is available and these problems can be taken care of. A hair dresser in the family can help with the hair. Relatives may be able to provide clothes and shoes. A friend or relative would most likely be delighted to help your child with sports or other activities, if you can't.

If your child has a learning disability, you can find help from the school, your local health department and within the community. You may discover that your child needs help with social skills and now is the time to deal with that. The key to helping your child, if they are being bullied or shunned, is good communication. The church is also a great place to turn to for help. Regular church service attendance can help the child spiritually and Sunday school class can bring a new group of friends for your child. These are some signs and solutions for you, should your child become the victim of bullying or shunning. You, as a parent, can see the signs before anyone else. Don't ignore them. Your child's well being depends on it.