October Is National Bullying Prevention Month 2020 | Kisling, Nestico & Redick
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Date posted
 
October 4, 2020
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Although many kids aren’t in school, bullying is still a problem in 2020. Online bullying, harassment through social media, and neighborhood fights can turn into problems quickly. Read below to learn more about bullying and how to prevent it.

With 11 offices across the state, the Ohio personal injury law firm, Kisling, Nestico & Redick supports the neighborhoods that we serve. We care about the children in these various communities, and want to do all we can to stop bullying in Ohio. That’s why we encourage everyone to make a pledge to stop bullying.

How Do I Know If My Child Is Being Bullied?

There are signs you can watch for to determine if your child or a loved one is being bullied. Because bullying can take many different forms, the signs can be diverse as well.

Some of the signs of bullying include:

  • Unexplained injuries
  • Lost books, jewelry, or other belongings
  • Destroyed clothing and electronics
  • Frequent claims of sickness or faking illness
  • Headaches or stomach aches
  • A change in eating habits – either skipping meals or binge eating
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Nightmares
  • Declining grades or loss of interest in school
  • Not wanting to go to school
  • Loss of friends
  • Avoidance of social situations
  • Feelings of helplessness
  • Decreased self esteem
  • Self-destructive behaviors
  • Running away from home
  • Talking about suicide or wishing to get away

If you suspect someone is experiencing bullying, you should take action. Don’t ignore the signs. It won’t likely go away on its own. Bullies often continue their behavior for weeks, months, or even years, or until an adult steps in to deal with the problem.

What Should I Do About Bullying?

You can do a lot to help prevent bullying. It’s important that kids understand bullying and keep open lines of communication. Let your children know you are a safe person to talk to about their emotions and what is happening to them. Encourage kids to do what they love, including special activities and hobbies. You should also model how to treat others with kindness and respect.

You can take steps to prevent bullying before it starts. Children should be introduced to diverse people and taught about empathy. When children understand how badly teasing and other bully behaviors hurt, they are not likely to partake in it.

If your child or someone you love is being bullied, you should act quickly to stop it. That might mean separating the bully and speaking with other adults who may need to get involved.

Preventing Online Bullying

Online bullying can be even more difficult to prevent. You can prevent your child from being exposed to bullies by monitoring their online presence. Social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat should be limited to age appropriate availability.

Multiplayer games like Fortnight and Call of Duty should also be monitored by parents. These platforms promote excessive interaction among children in an environment where negative behaviors can get out of control quickly.

If there is an online bullying situation, you can use block features to restrict who your child can interact with so they are not exposed to toxic situations.

KNR Cares & Wants to Help

At Kisling, Nestico & Redick, we understand the complexity and prevalence of bullying in Ohio. We have first-hand experience with bullying in Ohio schools and online. Some of our attorneys experienced bullying as children and others have dealt with these issues for their children.

By raising awareness of bullying among children at school and online, we may help parents, teachers, and other adults prevent bullying. We also may help adults resolve this behavior before it leads to further harm.

To learn more about KNR’s efforts to combat bullying or our other work in the community, call 1-800 HURT-NOW or contact us online.