What Bullying Is
Although bullying is often associated with high school, did you know a child can actually start showing bullying tendencies from the age of just two years old? Unless it is picked up on and addressed quickly, this bullying behavior can continue into adulthood.
Bullying has always been present in elementary school, it just tends to be overlooked. So, if you’re worried your child may be being bullied, or you’re concerned your child may be the bully themselves, here you’ll discover everything you need to know about what bullying is in elementary school.
The difference between bullying and teasing
It can be difficult for young children to differentiate between bullying and teasing. At this age, they’re learning more about social friendships and they’re much better able to regulate their emotions. However, it can still difficult for them to understand whether they’re being teased or bullied.
Generally speaking, teasing tends to go back and forth between two or more children, while bullying is purely one-sided. Teasing is good natured and will stop if one child says they don’t like it. Bullying on the other hand carries on after the child has asked the bully to stop, and can even occur more often.
Although bullying can take many different forms these days, in elementary school, it can be pretty much described as:
- A pattern of behavior used by a single child, or a group of children, to intentionally and repeatedly gain power over the victim.
- Threats made against the child
- Name calling
- Attempt to socially alienate a child by spreading rumors, playing pranks and not including the child during playtime or as part of the group.
The key point to focus on above, is that bullying is a “pattern of behavior”. It isn’t a one-off event, or a single act of aggressive behavior. Similarly, with social exclusion, it would need to be consistent exclusion. It’s actually the most difficult type of bullying to pinpoint as the child may simply be excluded from things for innocent reasons which have nothing to do with bullying or singling them out.
Some types of bullying can be difficult for teachers and parents to identify. Therefore, it can help to look out for signs your child may be being bullied.
How common is bullying in elementary schools?
Bullying is a lot more common in elementary schools than you might think. In the US, around 33% of children in elementary school report being bullied.
One of the reasons it often goes undetected is because parents don’t typically expect their younger children to be bullied; it’s a problem most associate with high school. So, they don’t fully understand or look for the signs their child may be being bullied.
The above is just a very basic description of what bullying is. Though elementary school bullying may be seen as generally a lot less serious than high school bullying, this sadly isn’t always the case. All forms of bullying should be handled appropriately and as early as possible to stop the behavior from escalating.
How to Identify If Your Child Is Being Bullied
No parent wants to discover their child is being bullied, and it’s definitely not something you think about when they’re attending elementary school. However, the sad truth is that bullying is starting to occur in much younger age groups than it once did.
Approximately 33% of elementary school children report being bullied. That’s just the reported cases, many go unreported due to parents and teachers missing the signs. So, how can you tell if your child is being bullied? Below, you’ll discover some of the main signs to look out for.
1. Missing belongings
Two of the most common signs of bullying in elementary school are missing belongings and unexplained injuries.
Does your child regularly come home from school without some of the things they took in? Books, clothes and toys are just some of the belongings a bully may take from another child.
2. Unexplained injuries
Unexplained injuries are also a tell-tale sign of bullying. Physical bullying tends to be more common in boys than it is girls. However, it’s still important to remember that both genders are capable of partaking in physical bullying.
The key thing to remember here, is that it’s common for young children to both lose things and injure themselves. So, you’ll need to watch out for frequent incidents, rather than a one-off scrape on the knee or them coming home one time with a shoe missing.
3. Emotional changes
The majority of children who are bullied tend to show more emotional signs of being bullied than physical ones. Have you noticed a significant change in behavior recently? If your child tends to change before and right after school and appears much happier in the holidays, it could be a strong sign they’re having issues at school.
4. Refusal to go to school
Many young children will refuse to go to school, or at least display a lot of distress before they have to go. They may also start to withdraw and become quite evasive; especially when asked about school.
5. Changes in their sleeping pattern
Many young children who are being bullied, tend to have issues sleeping. It could be they don’t sleep as much, or they may even wet the bed. They could also experience more nightmares and be reluctant to get out of bed in the morning.
The issues sleeping are a fear and anxiety response and should be taken seriously if they don’t usually have issues at night time.
The above are just some of the most common signs of bullying to look out for. You know your child so emotional changes will be easier to pick up on.
If you do spot any of these signs, it is worth asking your child if they’re being bullied. Some may not want to admit it, but if it is confirmed, you can then focus on getting to the bottom of the issue.
