Below See TIPS, IDEAS, AND SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF BULLYING
Learning to Manage The Impact of Bullying
Recently, my grandchild, who I have been raising for the last 7 years, has been experiencing the impact of bullying in and outside of school.
As a parent or a grandparent raising grandkids, we may think of bullying as a benign incident that occurs temporarily towards our child. However, in today’s world of technology, bullying extends far beyond name-calling or teasing on a playground.
Bullying occurs when one person becomes aggressive and demands power or control over another person. This power or aggression can come as physical or emotional harm to that person.
Unfortunately, my grandchild felt a loss of control when she became the target of bullying. For me, and her teachers, understanding the serious impact of the bullying she endured became an uphill battle of circumstances.
Types of Bullying
Although we may think of bullying as name-calling and teasing, several types of bullying can be detrimental to children.
They include:
Verbal Bullying:
Verbal teasing others through words is considered verbal bullying, as well as verbal abuse.
Unwanted joking, insults, hurtful comments, teasing, sexual comments, and offensive language are all considered verbal bullying.
Physical Bullying:
Physical bullying includes purposely hurting others. This includes hitting, pushing, shoving, tripping, pulling, or touching someone.
This type of behavior can be done through aggressive actions or subtle unwanted touching. Either approach is considered physical bullying.
Social Bullying:
Social bullying is extremely difficult for children in a school environment. I know my grandchild REALLY struggled with feeling left out and isolated when being bullied.
Social bullying includes spreading rumors, alienating others against you, and viciously ignoring or avoiding those who are being bullied.
Social bullying causes children to withdraw and lack self-esteem. Many children lose interest in sports and extracurricular activities and choose to spend more time alone.
Cyberbullying:
I feel cyberbullying can be the most detrimental type of bullying, due to the lack of control of technology. Cyberbullying includes damaging forms of information that could quickly spread virtually.
Cyberbullying includes bullying through social media channels, texts, especially group texts, videos, and chat rooms.
Sadly, cyberbullying can run rampant and extend well beyond its intended audience. If your child is being cyberbullied, seek support through law enforcement and other professional networks.
Impacts of Bullying in Schools
Being bullied can seep into all areas of a child’s life. While children may feel excluded or joked about and bullied in class or the cafeteria; the bullying may also appear outside of the school. Perhaps on a ball field or other sporting or extracurricular events.
When continual bullying exists, children begin to withdraw. They may feel insecure about themselves, both physically and emotionally. Children may become extremely angry towards everyone, not only those who are bullying, to protect their feelings and emotions.
For parents, grandparents, teachers, administrators, and coaches, it is important to identify bullying situations and immediately address the bully or bullies as soon as possible.
Effects of Bullying in School
The effects of bullying in school can lead to multiple negative outcomes for children. Parents and teachers typically see a child or teen’s school performance decline. Additionally, a child’s social connections and self-esteem begin to deteriorate.
Experience stress and the impact of bullying can also lead to mental health issues as well as dangerous behaviors.
The Effects of Bullying
The effect of bullying can develop differently for each child or teen. Yet, most children tend to experience several of these emotions and/or behaviors when they are being bullied.
- Sadness/Depression
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Illness/Physical Sickness
- Poor grades
- Anger/Aggressive behaviors
- Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness
- Isolation/loneliness
- Avoiding school/Poor school attendance
- Failing grades
- Decreased appetite/weight loss
- Low self-esteem
- Loss of interests
- Use of drugs and/or alcohol
- Talk of or thoughts of suicide
The Physical Impacts of Bullying
The physical impacts of bullying can manifest subtly in children being bullied. Parents and/or grandparents may not notice their child’s physical injuries or complaints as an impact of bullying.
Other health results from bullying may materialize as headaches, sleep conditions, or eating disorders.
My grandchild faced various digestive issues and significant weight loss for many months. Even being hospitalized several times.
But, after the bullying was identified, her physical concerns began to improve. Unfortunately, they did not completely disappear but were better managed after identifying the impact of bullying.
Psychological Impacts of Bullying
Professionals have shown that bullying over time can lead to a multitude of psychological issues.
A once active, confident child or teen who is being bullied, can become anxious and withdrawn. Often children do not recognize that their changing behaviors are attributed to the bullying they are experiencing.
Children are reluctant or afraid to call out the bully for fear of retaliation. Frequently onsite bullying can escalate into cyberbullying….especially for teens…and they can become the focus of embarrassment and harassment through social media.
Cyberbullying or virtual bullying, has the most psychological impact of bullying on children, teens, and adults, and bullies should be held accountable for their actions.
Parents, grandparents, or anyone being virtual or cyberbullied should contact their local authorities.
Bullying vs Harassment
What is the Difference Between Bullying and Harassment?
When my grandchild was experiencing the physical and psychological impacts of bullying, we met with various school administrators.
While discussing the specific circumstances of my grandchild’s bullying, we were told that the school recognized that type of behavior as harassment, not bullying.
Interestingly enough, the difference between bullying and harassment is quite significant. Although bullying and harassment are thought of as similar, they are not.
Though both include destructive and hurtful behaviors, the definition, by law, protects students facing harassment.
When my grandchild was experiencing the physical and psychological impacts of bullying, we met with various school administrators.
While discussing the specific circumstances of my grandchild’s bullying, we were told that the school recognized that type of behavior as harassment, not bullying.
Interestingly enough, the difference between bullying and harassment is quite significant. Although bullying and harassment are thought of as similar, they are not.
Though both include destructive and hurtful behaviors, the definition, by law, protects students facing harassment.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary, definition of bullying states:
- Abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger, more powerful, etc.
- Prone to or characterized by overbearing mistreatment and domination of others.
Additionally, the Merriam-Webster dictionary, definition for harassment states:
- To annoy persistently
- To create an unpleasant or hostile situation, especially by uninvited and unwelcome verbal or physical conduct.
- To worry and impede by repeated raids
For bullying, the person with the so-called power can target someone through repeated and unsolicited actions or comments.
Those being bullied typically feel they cannot control what is happening to them. Therefore, they can feel the impact of bullying socially, physically, and/or emotionally.
However, harassment forms hurtful and dangerous behaviors. Harassment can include threats, assaults, verbal abuse, or graphic or humiliating information about someone.
Harassment also includes statements about someone’s nationality, sexual orientation, age, race, color, disability, or religion.
Federal laws have been put in place to protect students from being harassed.
To find specific details about these federal laws, go to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) for more information.
How To Prevent Bullying in School
Bullying is a concerning problem that affects school children throughout the country. As stated, the impact of bullying affects children both physically, emotionally, and psychologically.
Therefore, parents, grandparents, teachers, and administrators need to work together to prevent bullying in school environments.
Some successful approaches for preventing bullying in school are:
Create a safe and respected environment:
When students feel safe and respected, they feel valued and show kindness and respect to others.
Teach and Inform Students the Impact of Bullying:
Teaching students the effects and consequences of bullying allows them an opportunity to understand the negative impact of bullying.
Create Well-Defined Rules and Accountability:
Creating well-defined rules and accountability so all students clearly understand their responsibility if they are bullying.
Prevention includes holding bullies accountable for their actions and receiving consequences for their behaviors.
Encourage Reporting:
Many children are scared to report being bullied for fear of revenge. This is 100% true of my grandchild. Although the impact of bullying was affecting her in a variety of negative ways, she chose to ignore it for as long as possible.
It wasn’t until her physical health became an everyday concern. And she didn’t want to go to school….especially one of her classes. When her grades began to drop, she agreed to talk to me and her counselor about the ongoing bullying.
Since then, we’ve continued to monitor the situation through the support of her teachers and the school. But honestly, it is still a concern in my heart and my head, as I believe it is with her as well. Ugh!
It Takes a Village:
Preventing bullying involves lots of people, not just the school staff. Parents and other community members can provide you and your child support and encouragement through the challenges.
Don’t be ashamed or afraid to reach out to others to ask for help. It is important to create a safe and supportive environment for you and your child.
Recognizing the Impact of Bullying
When children, parents, grandparents, and educators recognize the impact of bullying we can work together to address immediate concerns and prevent future incidents.
Working together can help provide support to students dealing with the impact of bullying and inspire them to rise above the meanness of their bullies!
TIPS, IDEAS, AND SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF BULLYING
- If you notice a change in your child’s behavior, ask them directly about the possibility of being bullied.
- Quite often, children blame themselves and fear parents or grandparents may think they did something wrong, which is why they are being bullied.
- Listen closely to your child’s information. Don’t discount their emotions as too sensitive. They may be trying to tell you something in other ways, and not verbally.
- Believe your child. Don’t disregard the message or information they are sharing with you. Ask questions!
- Find support. If your child is being bullied don’t ignore it. It may get worse. Talk about it with a teacher or a school administrator.
- It is important to realize that the impact of bullying can cause childhood trauma. Be vigilant to confront bullying situations to avoid traumatic outcomes for your child. For more information about trauma see “How to Learn These 5 Traumatic Childhood Experiences.
- Show your child extra love. Giving affection and showing love will send a strong message that you love them unconditionally.
