Physical and emotional changes can make children the target of bullies.  Being a bully or a victim of bully puts children at risk  for engaging in violent behaviors such as fighting .  Bullying comes in several forms such as name calling , unrelenting teasing, spreading rumors  and deliberately excluding a child from an activity. Cyberbullying using the Internet or mobile phones, racial slurs, mocking cultural traditions, and unwanted physical contact are all forms of bullying.

Signs that may indicate that your child is being bullied includes the following :

• Physical injuries
• Trying to avoid school
• Changing routes to school
• Sudden disappearance of belongings.

How parents can help children deal with bullying

Parents ca do the following :

• Help your child know the difference between normal teasing and aggressive acts  such as discrimination and being bossy.
• Encourage your child to tell you  about bullying. It is sometimes difficult for children to talk about it because they feel weak or embarrassed to talk about it .
• Don’t ignore your child, act disappointed or blame your child when he tells you about bullying. Your reaction is important. Being a victim can harm the child’s self esteem.
• Teach your child  that its okay to remain calm in front of the bully. You  should also alert authority about the ongoing bullying.
• You can use role play to show your child what they need to say or how to react in front of bullies.
• Let your child know that its not his fault that he’s being bullied. Let them know that bullies are unhappy children or children who have been bullied themselves.
• Get an adult role model such as a teacher or principal involved to set the tone that bullying is not permitted.