Bullying
Recently there has been media attention surrounding ‘cyberbullying’. The Globe and Mail reported this week ‘one in three Canadian kids say they have been a victim of cyberbullying’. Why is this an important issue that requires attention? Because bullying whether cyber bullying or just plain old fashioned bullying can be dangerous to the individual on the receiving end. It could potentially lead to a child becoming depressed or even worse – committing suicide.
With easy access to social media and an overwhelming choice of options it makes bullying much more convenient. You no longer have to wait until you are in the school yard. Bullying can now be done any where, any time and has a much broader reach. I bring up this issue as I am encountering it more and more in my practice and have seen the effects. Being bullied affects a child’s self esteem, self confidence and how they perceive themselves in society. This tends to also be true of a child who bullies. It is not unlikely when you ask a child why they bully they will indicate it makes them feel better.
I do believe we all have a role in preventing the consequences of bullying. Listen, observe and ask questions. As a healthcare professional I will always ask my young patients about school, friendships and extra curricular activities. By doing so it may just preclude two children from having to deal with complex health issues down the road – the child who is bullying and the child on the receiving end.
Let’s not forget to check in with our children!
Advocating for a bully free world,
Shelley
Bullying is bullying…..no matter the method in which it is done! With the amount of time our children are now spending in the ‘electronic world’ it is even more important for parents to activity draw information out of our young people as the outward signs of bullying may not be there for us to readily see. Communication is the key…..and being prepared for whatever information comes our way even if it makes us uncomfortable. The world is complicated for all of us and it is our responsibility to teach the youngest of us how to cope and act as necessary.