Monroe Sheriff shares info on bullying to protect Pocono kids | Something to Think About

It is no secret that raising children in today’s world is beyond the word challenging. With the pace of life and technology, there are constantly new “landmines” to maneuver to keep your child on track, safe and have a happy and loving childhood. With the Christian and Jewish holidays upon us, there is always a message of peaceful times to be shared by all.

At a recent event, Monroe County Sheriff Ken Morris, and his office, made information available for parents and guardians on the topic of bullying.

Since not everyone who has a child was present at the event, there is good information to share that will be helpful navigating that minefield.

Today most people focus on the two types of bullying that can affect a child. One is simply direct bullying and the other is cyberbullying. Two different types, with the same affect on a child.

Knowing the warning signs can clue in a parent or guardian and help address the issue before it can be too late and something worse can happen.

We all see it and hear about it virtually every day in the news.

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How serious is the problem?

How serious is the problem? Very serious.

Direct bullying is linked to teen and preteen suicide as well as school shootings. Research shows that 10 to 25% of US students are bullied with some frequency. Reports show that 30% of US students admit they bully others with only 25 to 50% of children turning to an adult about being bullied.

The common target of direct bullying may be kids who are shy, anxious or considered “different” or “weak” by their peers. LGBTQ+ youth are the most likely to be bullied. But, bullying can affect any child. Research done on the subject shows that 70% of kids have witnessed bullying at school.

What results is fear, sadness, powerlessness and guilt experienced by the bystander. It may even spark the feeling that the only response is to bully others themselves.

Is your child being bullied? Here are the warning signs

What are the warning signs of a child being bullied? A child who is being directly bullied may have torn clothing, unexplained bruises, missing property, express fear in going to school or take out-of-the way paths to or from school.

The child may express, or not, feelings of helplessness, or have a loss of self-esteem. There may be a sudden loss of friends or fewer friends or a decline in grades. Physical indications may manifest as depression, self-destructive behavior, changes in sleeping and eating habits.

What is cyberbullying?

The problem extends to cyberbullying. Here research shows that 16% of students report being cyberbullied. The issues surrounding cyberbullying is that a cyberbully can “follow” a child wherever they go, which makes it hard to escape. Cyberbullies sent out hurtful messages or images posted online that can be viewed by a wide audience and can live in cyberspace for years to come.

Similar to direct bullying, a child who may be cyberbullied may exhibit unexplained anxiety, anger, sadness or fear, especially after accessing the internet. The same warning signs as direct bullying may exist plus either an increased interest or decreased interest in accessing the internet by computer or cell phone.

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How parents can help kids be safe

What should a parent or guardian tell a child? First, if school is the location, contact teachers or administration. This goes for any type of bullying.

Communication is vital to keeping a child safe and to putting an end to the negative activity. Role play for direct bullying issues may help a child stay calm and learn to walk away or seek adult help. Staying in safe areas, where there are teachers, staff or where other adults are around is a safe action.

Not being alone in the bathroom is an action that can prevent issues as well.

Cyberbullies look for their “target” to revisit websites where they have posted something. Avoiding these sites and never posting or sending anything mean about others, as well as passing on information is also a good practice.

A very important action is to only allow people they know and trust to have access to their profiles on social media. And like direct bullies, these individuals should be reported as well. At some point, it may be necessary for either type of bullying to involve law enforcement.

Documentation is vital to stopping bullying. If on the computer, save all the communications, block further messages and if necessary change all contact information. Do not respond to a cyberbully and report any activity of this type to the internet or cell phone provider as well.

Alerting the school, and/or the police is advised, especially if you believe your child is in danger.

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How to identify a bully

Identifying the traits of a bully is just as important as knowing what to do if your child is bullied. The common traits are: being impulsive, quick-tempered, easily frustrated, dominant, lacking in empathy, reluctant to follow rules, and perhaps being physically stronger than peers.

Children who bully others are more likely to: get into frequent fights, get hurt from fighting, vandalize or steal property, drink alcohol and/or smoke, carry a weapon, skip school or drop out of school.

If you think your child may be a bully, share your concerns with a teacher, school counselor or administrator. If your child needs additional help, talk with a mental health professional, your child’s school may have them on staff.

It is always recommended to set clear rules for bullying behavior and enforce them.

Being aware, prepared and knowing what to do will help create that childhood filled with love, support and happy times that will live in your child’s heart forever.

Debbie Kulick writes a weekly column for the Pocono Record and Tri-County Independent. She serves on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic as an EMT.

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Debbie Kulick: Monroe County Sheriff shares info to prevent bullying