Signs That Indicate Your Child is A Bully from my segment on Star 105.7 with Tommy and Brook.
No parent wants to believe that their child who they raised to the best of their ability could possibly bully or physically hurt another person, but it happens.
It does not indicate that you are a bad mom or that it is a bad home situation, your child could just be poorly responding to conflicts that are happening at school.
I want to emphasize though that all children can show signs of bullying and not actually BE a bully or a danger to others. Most of the time- the name calling and sticks and stones ARE just a normal part of growing up.
But, there are certain characteristics that can be seen in many children and teens who bully others. Here are a few signs to watch for:
•If your child has a bad temper and seems to fly off the handle easily then they are likely also blowing up at school. Tempers can easily flare and lead to violence if someone doesn’t know how to deal with anger or frustration.
•A child or teen who bullies often sees violence in a positive light. They may think that fighting and violence is somehow “cool” and will talk about it like it’s no big deal.
• If your child often tries to dominate those around him/her (younger siblings, neighbors etc) then there is a chance that they are showing that same dominance at school.
•A child who is constantly getting into trouble and doesn’t seem to follow rules is likely to bully others and even become violent. If your child gets into trouble regularly for things like skipping class, fighting or disrespecting his teachers then bullying is a huge possibility.
• Anti-social behavior, while this sign may not indicate bullying, it is a warning sign that we shouldn’t ignore because it could lead to violent behavior on themselves or others.
I know it’s hard to imagine that OUR kids could be the ones bullying other children, but Moms, we have to keep our eyes open and pay attention ….and if you have noticed any of these signs and suspect that your child may be a bully, it’s time to sit down with your child and talk to them.
Find out if they are angry and why. Sometimes just talking to your child and giving them the chance to express themselves makes all the difference in the world.
Sometimes using word pictures to encourage compassion. Ask them, “how would you feel if…kids laughed when you read out loud in class?” Talk about specific situations in which you think your child might feel bullied in.
If talking to your child doesn’t seem to be making an impact and you continue to see the signs of bullying, it’s time to bring in some outside help. Talk to a school counselor or a therapist. There is no shame in helping our children navigate these difficult years.
Real moms know that our kids are the most valuable gift we’ve been given, let’s make sure we do all that we can for them! I do the ‘Real Moms of West Michigan’ segments on Star 105.7 with Tommy and Brook every Tuesday morning around 7:05 AM. If you are not in the West Michigan area you can listen on iHeart radio
If you missed this segment, you can listen by clicking on the Star 105.7 tab.