r Ss G4 ys es ler es Loe xt fe] - / PARENTS a a ee Le —, Your Child’s Real Nightmare: The Bully? (NAPSA)—Bullying is defined as constantly saying or doing nasty or unpleasant things or teasing in a way someone doesn’t like. Here are some tips on deal. ing with bullying “4 from the 120-year‘di old children’s crisis — Ves “_ charity, KidsPeace. | Be on the lookout . <= y for: Sudden fear or reluctance to go to school * Ripped or torn cloth- Learn how jing at the end of the to deal with school day bullying *Frequent cuts or bruises and excuses to explain them Lost lunch money or possessions and excuses you have trouble believing Spending more time alone Grades that begin to fall Spending less time doing activities once enjoyed Changesin sleeping or eating Physical complaints Looking and acting sad What to do Pay attention to the problem, says KidsPeace President & CEO C.T. O’Donnell II. Parents need to help their child deal with bullying, and, in somecases, to protect the child from emotional and physical harm. Talk—let your child know you know something’s wrong Listen—encourage your child to talk Support—let your child know it’s not his fault Protect—if your child is in physical danger, talk to the school authorities Encourage—suggest your child talk to the bully (onlyif he is not in physical danger) * Reach out—tell a teacher or guidance counselorif necessary My child might be a bully “Bullying can be serious—for the bullier and the child who is bullied,” says Alvin Poussaint, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and National Director of the KidsPeace Lee Salk Center for Research. “It’s important to address the underlying reasons before they lead to even more harm.” Kidsbully because: They needto be in control They’re jealous, but have trouble sharing They learned threats or violence get them what they want They’ve seen those close to them bully someone else They’ve been bullied and maybe trying to get back at somebody without realizingit They have trouble controlling anger They don’t know how totalk about howtheyfeel They’re used to getting what they want They have low self-esteem They see a lot of violent showsor games I want to help Try some of these suggestions: Awareness—Let your child know you’re aware of bullying behavior Stick to it—Even though he denies it Show real concern—Let her know you want to help and are concerned about her behavior Talk—Talk about what you’ve seen or heard, but don’t judge him Teach her—She may not know howto talk about feelings. Be open about the importance of talking, especially about upsetting things Be careful—Bullying, frequent yelling or violence at home, can affect younger children KidsPeace offers parents and guardians useful information about children and commoncrises of growing up at www.kidspeace.org. Older children and teens can visit the safe, anonymousandfree self-help Website, www.TeenCentral.Net. There they can work out problems, share stories with other teens, and findfriendly, personalized, clinically screened advice. “Sometimes,” says Lewis P. Lipsitt, Ph.D., child development expert and National Director of the KidsPeace Lee Salk Center for Research, “the most comforting thing to knowis that you and your children are not alone and that help is available.” KidsPeace is dedicated to giving help, hope andhealingto children facing crises such as traumas, depression, and the stresses of modernlife. KidsPeace helps thousands of children at 50 centers nationally, and millions more through public education efforts supported by its national spokesperson, TV personality, Leeza Gibbons.
