Some children have problems with their classmates at school and don't tell their mothers out of fear or embarrassment.
The specialists enumerate a number of signs that appear on the child and serve as a warning to the mother that her child is experiencing problems with his colleagues, with recommendations on how to help him avoid them.
Why do children suffer?
There are a number of different issues that can cause a child to struggle at school, including social or academic challenges, as well as physical ones.
According to the "Verywellfamily" website, the relationships between colleagues at school and the accompanying cases of bullying are a more common source of school problems for children and adolescents.
Children who suffer from bullying and pressure from friends at school may find it very difficult to keep up with lessons or understand the material.
The child should feel comfortable with his mother to reveal to her what is really happening in his life (Shutterstock)
Danger signs
With fear or unwillingness to disclose, the mother has difficulty recognizing if her child is having difficulties at school with classmates.
However, there are some signs, according to Momjunction, that indicate that the child is having problems with his classmates, including:
Lost or damaged property
One way to know if a child has been abused is if they repeatedly "lose" their things, or if their items come back damaged even though they are not neglected.
One of the most common things bullies do may be taking other classmates' property and violently destroying it in front of them.
Sudden drop in self-esteem
The mother can notice that something is wrong with her child, who was always optimistic and self-confident, after he suddenly turned and was never confident in himself.
Physical and emotional trauma causes the child to begin to question their self-worth.
He may feel that he is on the weaker side, and that he is subject to negative actions and comments for no reason at all.
As a result, his self-esteem begins to drop.
The mother may notice behavioral changes in her young, such as keeping his head down or speaking in a very soft voice.
He may even begin to avoid family members, and may not speak unless addressed directly in order not to draw attention to his situation.
Avoid friends and social events
If the abuse continues, the child may begin to shut down from every type of social interaction.
He may choose to stay home alone instead of going out with his friends or visiting family at the various events he used to attend before.
A sudden change in his behaviour
Due to the child being bullied by his classmates and his inability to defend himself or vent his anger, his behavior inside the house changes with his family members, and there is constant anger, distress, and criticism of every action or word.
This may be an attempt to feel that he is in control at home.
The child does not know why he is being abused, and it is important for him to know that bullying is never his fault (Shutterstock)
Nightmares or trouble sleeping
When a child suddenly has difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares, it may be a sign of anxiety about a situation or a problem at school, as physical and emotional harm may have a direct impact on the quality of a child's sleep.
Asking for money or other unusual things
Negative influences can come in different forms, and may be physical, verbal or social.
Overly aggressive children may pressure their classmates to start giving them more.
As a result of this intimidation, children may start asking their parents for more things, such as money or food, than they normally need.
Unexplainable physical signs
A mother can know if her child is facing violent problems with classmates by discovering signs or effects of physical violence on him, and if he cannot explain the reasons for the appearance of these repeated signs, this may be a strong cause for concern.
The mother can notice that something is wrong with her child, who was always self-confident, after he suddenly turned (Shutterstock)
How do you help him?
It is not easy for any mother to know that her child is exposed to emotional or physical problems inside school. Emotion may be the primary driver, but it does not always succeed. :
The situation must be explained to the child well in a way that he can understand.
Sometimes, the child does not know why he is being abused, it is important for him to know that the bullying is never his fault.
Bullying is always about the person engaging in the behavior, not the target.
Pointing this out helps him defend himself in the future.
Constant communication with the child.
The child should feel comfortable with his mother, revealing to her what is really going on in his life.
Enhancing the child's confidence
by pushing him to discover and pursue new talents and hobbies.
Create a list of responses
by training the child on phrases that can be used to tell a classmate to stop bullying behavior.
These words should be simple and direct, but not hostile like, "Leave me alone."
role play.
Role playing can be a good way to build confidence and enable your child to deal with challenges.
The mother can play the role of a bully while the child practices different reactions so that he feels confident in dealing with upsetting situations.
When role-playing, it is important to train the child to speak in a strong and firm voice.
Promote positive body language.
It is necessary for the child to feel his power even if he does not use it.
He can be trained to look the bully in the eye with confidence, and this helps him feel more empowered in difficult situations and forces the other child to back off.
Communicate with
school officials if the matter is repeated.
what's he doing?
There are some ways, according to Kidshealth, that children can improve the situation themselves and influence the bully to undo his harm, including:
Move with friends.
For a child to surround himself with friends, this is a deterrent to a bully's attack.
contain anger.
It is natural for a child to be annoyed by the harassment of his colleagues, but that distress is what the bully seeks, as it makes him feel more powerful.
It is useful for the
child to train not to respond by crying or being upset.
It takes a lot of practice, the child can practice "calm down" strategies such as counting to 10, writing down his angry words, taking deep breaths, or turning away from him and keeping a calm face until he has cleared any danger.
Turn away and ignore.
Ignoring the bully is a very effective way to stop it.
The bully is likely to get bored with being constantly ignored.
Ask for help
.
Teachers, the school principal, parents and any staff within the school can be turned to for help in stopping a child abuser.
Finally, it is important for the child to know that this is always available and effective in confronting the bully and stopping his harm.