Anyone can be a victim of bullying. As a parent, you pray that your child is not the one being bullied. And cross your fingers they are not the one bullying others. To tell if your child is being bullied, you need to recognize some common characteristics that describe bullied kids. Pay attention and see if your child is displaying any of the following characteristics. If they are, building your child’s character will help them stand up to bullying.
Bullied Kids Standout
Kids bully kids that are different. It could be looks, speech, habits, clothes, lifestyle, or other things that make a person unique. While it might be endearing and help a child distinguish him or herself, if they are extremely unique in some way, it’s also a reason for other kids to bullying them. Cherish your child’s uniqueness and monitor it to ensure they aren’t being picked on because of it.
Letting your child attend school is a great way for them to learn social skills. Unfortunately, if they socially awkward, and have a difficult time making friends, it might make them a target for bullies. When a child has nobody to stand up for or support them, they are easy targets for bullies. Ask your child if they have friends and who they hang with. Talk to them about joining groups or clubs to meet more kids. Being an outcast is never fun – especially if it makes you a target for bullying. It’s easier to build your child’s character when they are a member of fun after school group.
Building Character
Children who are unable to defend themselves may also be victims of bullies. While not every child can become the Karate Kid, enrolling your child in a basic self-defense class or a local park district karate class may help their self-esteem, as well as teach them basic defensive skills. When other children know that your child is taking or has taken self-defense lessons, it will make them less likely to bully your child.
If your child is different, unpopular, or defenseless, they may be a target for bullying. See if they exhibit these characteristics and talk to them about their social interactions with other children. It’s possible to prevent bullying from happening by identifying how likely your child is to be bullied and how they can address it if it occurs. Building your child’s character is one way that will help them when on the receiving end of being bullied.
To learn more about bullying and see how Nuff deals with it, check out his latest adventure titled Bullying Isn’t Nice. Join him as he finds out the pros and cons of being on both sides of the bullying spectrum and why making friends is better.
