Does your child bully siblings at home? Does your child exhibit aggressive behavior or become agitated when he or she does not get his own way? Has your child verbally abused you or anyone in the home? Have you noticed any new items your child has acquired? Does your child spend an unusual amount of time alone in his or her room? Have you noticed your child's interactions with friends to be over-domineering? Does your child consistently come home late from school?

While these are important clues. More often than not, bullying will occur in a school setting. If there has been an incident in school, a letter will be sent home. However, as most kids throw away the letters so as not to get into trouble, the school will notify you by telephone if they have not heard from you.

Have you been called by a teacher or counselor asking you to attend a meeting with the principal? If your child is bullying others at school, and depending upon the severity of the bullying, this is the first step in addressing the problem.

If you haven't received a call from the school and you still suspect your child is bullying others, it is important for you to contact the school counselor and ask for a meeting to find out how your child is getting along with others. In this way, the counselor will be able to inform you of any incidents that may have occurred. Furthermore, you can discuss your child's behavior at home with the counselor as well as your suspicions.

Bullying behavior can encompass verbal or physical abuse. While you can try to control the situation at home, you may not be aware of your child's bullying behavior at school. The only way you can be sure your child is verbally or physically abusing others is to become involved in your child's school life as well.

Attending weekly or monthly meetings with the guidance counselor and/or teacher is one way in which you can stay informed. Your participation in your child's school will allow you to keep abreast of your child's activities including any incidents that may have occurred, and afford you the opportunity to apply any remedies to the situation that are recommended by the school-based support team.

If you have determined that your suspicions were correct, it is important to sit down and discuss this matter openly. Explain the ramifications of such actions, and while your child may resist listening, remind your child that any future action will result in consequences such as coming directly home from school, no computer time, no TV, and other forms of punishment you deem necessary.

If you think your child is bullying others and need to be sure, it will be necessary to watch your child's behavior at home. Further, becoming actively involved in your child's school can also help you to determine if bullying is occurring, and utilize the many remedies offered to you by the school counselor or psychologist.

copyright By Mandy-Jane Clarke

Stop-Bullies.com