Is Your Child Being Bullied? How to Find Out and Stop it Now!

Our team of dedicated and faithful nannies at Nanny Boutique have spent a lot of time getting to know your children.  Whether it’s babysitting for families, church nurseries, or even at hotels here in Apex, Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill, we have grown to know and care for your little ones as if they were our own.  It doesn’t matter if we’ve only become acquainted with your child for a night or if we have been watching them grow up here in Raleigh, Cary, and Durham right alongside you over the years- we are always concerned about their safety and well-being.

One of the most common disturbances we sometimes see here in Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, and Apex among children is bullying.  It could be verbal bullying (teasing or name calling), social bullying (leaving someone out in a group or spreading rumors), or even physical bullying (pinching, pushing, spitting)… none of it is okay!  So how can you tell that your child is being bullied and what are some of the warning signs? Some of these may include:

●       any new injuries that cannot be explained

●       any lost or missing items such as clothing, school supplies, jewelry, or video games

●       withdrawal from school such as: poor grades, not wanting to go, consistent complaints of not feeling well

●       frequent nightmares and trouble sleeping at night as well as difficulty paying attention

●       decreased appetite or sudden onset of overconsumption of food

            Being able to recognize these signs is surely important because not all children who are bullied will ask for help.  Children may fear telling an adult because they may feel that they are being a “tattletale” and this can cause further problems among their peers.  Children may also feel that they have no one to turn to.  Unfortunately, not all children have a good support system, and so they may feel that they are on their own and this makes them even more vulnerable to bullying.

            So what can we do to help prevent bullying?  First off, children need to know what bullying really is.  Some children may not be aware that anything is abnormal, and so it is our job to spread the word and let our little ones know what is and what is not acceptable behavior.  If children are able to understand that something is wrong, they may be more likely to speak up.  We have to let them know that we are there for them, whether it’s your child, your student, or some little one that you just happen to know, encouraging them to share thoughts and feelings will allow them to open up about anything that is on their mind.

            If we are a witness to bullying, then it is our job to step in and stop it immediately.  The sooner an intervention happens, then the more likely that the problem will not escalate.  The children should be separated immediately to ensure safety.  Remember to stay calm and do not immediately question the children involved, but do not ignore the problem either.  It is best to let everyone calm down and then you can get to the root of the problem by asking each child about the incident on their own.  This prevents the children from arguing and lets you calmly assess the situation to try and find a resolution to the problem.

            Just remember that bullying is a serious issue.  It may arise from situations such as a little girl teasing a little boy she has a crush on, but it can also be far more serious than that.  Our nannies at Nanny Boutique have encountered different experiences with many children here alone in the Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, Morrisville, and Apex areas.  If you EVER suspect that any kind of physical abuse or weapons are involved in the situation, you should immediately call for the police and/or medical attention.  Physical harm is never okay and should always be taken seriously.  By calling for help immediately, you could save someone’s life.

The Nanny Boutique is a nanny and babysitting agency that specializes in placing caregivers or babysitters and nannies in the Apex, Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill areas.

 

This entry was posted on Monday, November 18th, 2013 at 11:21 pm and is filed under Raleigh Nanny & Babysitting Blog, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.