Warning Signs of Bullying

There are a range of common warning signs that your child is being bullied.

If your child:

● Comes home with torn, damaged, or missing pieces of clothing, books, or other belongings
● Has unexplained injuries, such as cuts, bruises, and scratches
● Has few, if any friends, with whom he or she spends time
● Has a sudden loss of known friends or avoidance of social situations
● Seems afraid of going to school, walking to and from school, riding the school bus, or taking part in organized activities with peers
● Takes a long, “illogical” route when walking to or from school
● Has lost interest in school work or suddenly begins to do poorly in school, including not wanting to go to school
● Appears sad, moody, teary, or depressed when he or she comes home
● Makes frequent complaints of headaches, stomachaches, or other physical ailments
● Appears to be faking illness
● Has trouble sleeping or has frequent bad dreams
● Changes eating habits, including skipping meals or binge eating. Kids may come home from school hungry because they did not eat lunch.
● Experiences a loss of appetite
● Appears anxious and suffers from feelings of helplessness or decreased self esteem
● Starts self-destructive behaviors such as running away from home, harming themselves, or talking about suicide