Dr. Surajit Khanna, an advocate for child safety and currently the champion of Voice of the Kids walks you through the effective ways in which parents can deal with child bullying.

The fact is no parent ever wants to think of their dear child being bullied or even worse, being a bully. Sadly, around 90 percent of students: kids, teens have experienced bullying.

Whether the bully, the victim, or those who witness bully, bullying can have both short and long term consequences on everyone and it can be catastrophic. Hence, it’s a thing every parent needs to make as a priority.

Read on Surajit Khanna explains how to know if your child is a victim or perpetrators how to address it and how to protect your young ones from bullying act.

What is bullying?

Bullying is a habitual aggressive use of force, threats, or abuse to dominate or intimidate others. These aggressive behaviors can include name-calling, spreading rumors, teasing, tripping, hitting, kicking, tripping, choking, encouraging people to socially exclude someone, and many more. “Although commonly among school-aged children, bullying can also happen even among the youngest daycare children, at home, on a playground, and even over a computer or cell phone. Therefore, recognizing bully is the first step to stopping it,” says Surajit Khanna.

How do I know if my child is being bullied?

Here are likely signs are given by Surajit Khanna that show your child is a victim of bullies.

Kids come home with worn damaged clothes, injuries, missing books, clothing, and any other belongings.

Have few or no friends in school or at home and spending most time alone

Doesn’t like going to school or wanting to go home before time

Often pass unreasonable or wrong direction when going or coming from home

Begins to have a low grade in school

Always asking for money

Always unhappy and irrational when coming home from school

They complain regularly of pains in the body

Bullied kids can complain of a lack of sleep, headaches, and stomachaches

Display of personalities such as caution and shyness, introversion, low self-confidence, unhappiness, and anxiety

What can I do if my child is being bullied?

Listen carefully to your child about the whole situation and pay attention to all the details says Surajit Khanna. Kids often feel it’s their fault they are been bullied and they are not strong enough to stand for themself. Hence, this reduces their self-esteem and make them feel humiliated. Moreover, they might feel their parent will be disappointed and mad at them, hence, making them more secretive about it. Support and comfort them and let them know they are not alone.

Let them know you believe and trust them. Kids often fear it will increase if the bullies found out they are been reported. Encourage them to talk and let them know they can trust you to handle the situation.

Embrace your child and let them know you are here to help them walk through it. Let them know they have done nothing wrong and the bullies are the problem not them. Urge them to be strong and be confident

Report the situation to the school authority and ask for permission to speak to the parent of the bullies so as to find common ground in finding a lasting solution to the whole situation.