Is your child being bullied? You can’t ignore these signs

The hidden cost of school bullying

In the United States, school bullying is no longer a simple childhood quarrel, but a hidden crisis that quietly threatens children's future. Did you know? What is disturbing is that the "hidden cost" brought by these experiences is often beyond imagination - it not only steals children's smiles, but may also ruin their academic and mental health, and even change their life trajectory.

The reason why this "hidden cost" is terrible is that it often grows quietly under the surface calm. Children may not dare to tell their parents that they are isolated at school, or hide malicious attacks on the Internet for fear of retaliation. However, these silent scars may lead to depression, anxiety, and even more extreme consequences - such as suicide or violent behavior.

Children who are often bullied at school generally have these characteristics

1. Sudden changes in personality, such as becoming withdrawn, anxious, depressed, taciturn or hostile.

2. Don't want to go to school or often cry and don't want to go to school.

3. The relationship with classmates who used to be good friends suddenly changes, such as no longer mentioning some friends who used to be mentioned frequently, or no longer willing to go to the home of friends who used to go frequently.

4. The academic performance suddenly drops, or the learning attitude suddenly changes, and the child cannot concentrate on studying or doing homework.

5. The child often asks parents for pocket money, or the pocket money given by the parents is often "lost", and the child cannot give a reasonable explanation.

6. Excessive psychological pressure leads to a smaller appetite and shorter sleep time.

7. Other students or teachers tell parents about the child being bullied.

8. Scars often appear on the body, and clothes and daily necessities are often damaged, but the child cannot give a reasonable explanation for this.

In general, parents only use 7/8 points to judge whether the child is bullied at school?

In fact, as long as the above signs are found in the child for more than 2 points, we should be alert that the child may be bullied;

If the above signs appear in the child for 5 or more points, the child is very likely to be seriously bullied, and parents should contact the school immediately to provide comprehensive help and support to the child.

What kind of children are often bullied?

▸ Appearance or body shape differences

Children who are obese, thin, or have obvious appearance characteristics (such as wearing glasses or crooked teeth) are easy targets.

▸ Introverted or lonely

Children who are shy, unsocial, or lack friends are more likely to be isolated.

▸ Minority or immigrant background

African, Latino, or Asian students, especially new immigrants, are often targeted due to language or cultural differences.

▸ LGBTQ+ identity

Children with non-traditional gender or sexual orientation are at high risk.

▸ Learning or behavioral disabilities

Children with autism, ADHD, or learning difficulties are easily ridiculed because of their "different" behavior. NIMH 2020 data shows that the rate of bullying of such students is 50% higher.

▸ Poor family economic conditions

Children who wear old clothes or cannot participate in paid activities are easily excluded.

Solutions

Faced with the "hidden costs" of school bullying, American parents, students and educators are not powerless. Here are several proven solutions,

1. Online anti-bullying tools and courses

Many American institutions and companies have developed online resources for bullying to help parents and students cope with the crisis. For example, StopBullying.gov (the official website of the US government's anti-bullying campaign) provides free parent guides and student toolkits, covering specific steps on how to identify bullying, communicate with schools, and protect children's mental health. In addition, commercial platforms such as Bark (an app that monitors children's online activities) are widely welcomed by American parents. According to Bark's 2023 report, the app has helped more than 6 million American children detect potential electronic bullying behaviors with a success rate of 92%. (https://www.stopbullying.gov/)

2. Mental health support services

Psychological intervention is the key to reducing the cost of bullying. The US National Mental Health Hotline (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) provides 24/7 free support and received more than 2 million calls for help in 2023, 10% of which were related to school bullying. （www.betterhelp.com ）

3. School and community programs

Many states in the United States have implemented anti-bullying programs. For example, PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center holds an “Anti-Bullying Month” event every October, providing free anti-bullying toolkits, covering more than 5,000 schools across the United States in 2023. （https://www.pacer.org/bullying/）

Conclusion

The “hidden cost” of school bullying is a reality that cannot be ignored in the United States. It threatens children’s psychological, academic and social development, and may even cause irreparable tragedies. From depression to dropping out of school, from isolation to extreme behavior, these costs remind us that silence is not the answer.