Bullies and their bullying behavior have been around forever. There has always been someone or a group of individuals who used their size or demeanor to intimidate others that were perceived to be weaker or more vulnerable. In the past, bullying typically involved taking lunches, lunch money or copying homework assignments. However, in today�s society bullying has advanced far beyond simply taking lunch money. What are the signs you should look for as a parent?
1. Parents need to be aware of what is happening with their child when they are away from home. Bullying can occur on schoolyards, backyards, or playgrounds at local parks.
2. Talk to your child to find out what is going on when they are out playing or hanging out with friends.
3. Talk to other parents in the neighborhood to get their perceptions of the situation.
4. Voice your concern.
5. Ascertain if your child is the only victim. Find out what type of bullying is occurring, who are the bullies and how often their bullying takes place.
6. If your child is being singled out, find out why?
7. Consider talking to the parents of the bully. Discuss your concern and that you want the behavior of their child to stop.
8. Monitor the situation to see if it changes.
9. Alert school officials if the bullying is taking place at school. Alert sponsors of organized recreational activities if it is taking place at football or soccer activities.
10. Finally educate yourself about your rights. This is especially important if your child is being terrorized or assaulted.
About the Author:
Felecia D. Sheffield, PhD, is an author, trainer, international speaker and
life coach. Dr. Sheffield has over 15 years of experience providing services to parents, schools, colleges, universities, and social services agencies. For addtional parenting articles, ADHD, LD and college resources visit psychcore.com psychcore.com
Copyright 2004-2007, Felecia D. Sheffield. PhD. All Rights Reserved Worldwide in all Media. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article in your ezine, newsletter, newspaper, magazine, website, etc. as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, leave my name and bio box intact, and you follow all of the EzineArticles Terms of Service for Publishers.