- To help children or adolescents who suffer from bullying in their schools, it is essential to coordinate an action plan between the school and their parents or representatives with the support of specialists in child or family psychology | Main photo: Freepik
In a period of approximately five months, Rodrigo*, 7 years old, completely changed his behavior, according to the testimony of his parents, Marta and Carlos. The couple told The Diary that the “tender child” who liked to share his toys and make friends, became blurred and became a surly and uncommunicative person.
At first, Marta and Carlos assumed that it was an act of rebellion. However, Rodrigo’s mood and behavior were not the only things that began to change, so did his willingness to do chores, bathe, eat, and do extracurricular activities like playing soccer.
They summoned us to school (an educational unit located in the Sucre municipality of Caracas) to inform us that Rodrigo hit his classmates, something that was difficult for us to believe at first because, as parents, you never want your child to be the bad guy in the movie,” he said. Marten.
To help their son, the parents began family psychological therapy, where the expert determined that the child had oppositional defiant disorder, which consists of a frequent and constant pattern of anger, irritability, arguments, and disobedience toward the father, mother, and others. authority figures.
Rodrigo developed this behavior since the previous school year, when he was a victim of bullying by three boys two years older than him.
“When I see Rodrigo’s situation in perspective, I understand that he was going through something, but with everyday life you lose perspective and you never think that your son is going to be mistreated by other children. As a mother, observation and communication with your children is the most important thing. Rodrigo progressively improves his behavior with the help of his family and psychological therapy,” commented the mother.
What are the signs of bullying?
For Alejandro Bolívar, a psychologist specialized in family therapy, Rodrigo’s diagnosis is one of the possible and most catastrophic scenarios that the child or adolescent can develop in the event of suffering bullying, however, he clarified that the main alert is the change of conduct.
The characteristics that give an indication that minors suffer from bullying in their schools are emotional peaks and continuous feelings in feelings that are considered “negative” such as irritability, sadness, fear, anger and frustration.
The expert added that children and adolescents who suffer bullying go through a period of isolation, in which they avoid sharing with their parents, family and friends from other environments; Furthermore, they repress their emotions and limit themselves to talking about their feelings.
“This tells us that something negative is happening with the child, bullying always gives signs that can evolve or worsen,” he said.
Bolívar explained that the emotional change of the child or adolescent is progressive and increases over time. In case the bullying persists over time, the disruptive behaviors of the minor will lead to a “breaking point” in their psychological state.
“When that point of emotional imbalance reaches where the bullying has escalated, other areas outside of school are affected, such as their performance in extracurricular activities and interaction with other children who do not belong to the school. We see from the beginning a disruptive behavior where the infant becomes poorly functional in other environments,” he argued.
Furthermore, another sign of bullying is poor academic performance. This is caused by demotivation and a decrease in the level of concentration, which makes learning difficult.
Possible consequences of bullying
The psychologist explained that in cases where bullying is not treated jointly by the family, the school and, if warranted, by professionals in the area of psychology, minors could present consequences.
According to Bolívar, changes in temperament in children or adolescents could cause anxious symptoms, stress or depression. He clarified that they are different from anxiety and depression disorders.
In more extreme cases, people who suffer from bullying can develop aggressive behaviors, conduct disorders or selective mutism, where the minor suddenly stops speaking in specific social situations.
How to deal with cases of bullying?
For the child or adolescent to present these symptoms, the expert recommended creating a support plan so that parents, representatives and teachers can apply it together through constant communication.
An alliance must be created with the children, not to take on the role of friend, but to connect more easily with their emotional side and know how to ask the right questions without the child feeling like they are being interrogated,” he said.
The psychologist’s recommendation is to ask these questions occasionally and one per day to prevent the harassed child or adolescent from feeling intimidated by the questions or perceiving a false violation of their privacy.
Questions to ask children and adolescents, according to the specialist:
-How did school go and what did you learn?
-What’s your best friend’s name?
-Do you learn a lot from your teacher?
-Do you like your group of classmates?
-What do you not like about your classroom?
The psychologist defined schools or educational units as environments where the child or adolescent should feel comfortable and safe in which they are allowed to develop mainly in academic and social areas.
“The infant spends a large part of his life at school, so it is essential that he feels safe. “Schools must be able to demonstrate cases of bullying, as well as disruptive behaviors in their students, and begin direct communication with their parents or representatives,” Bolívar said.
School bullying from a legal point of view
The psychologist announced that, in the event that the minor’s family is unable to coordinate an action plan to care for the child or adolescent regarding a case of bullying, the parents or representatives must resort to legal means where The Organic Law for the Protection of Children and Adolescents (Lopnna) must intervene.
If this happens, you should resort to State institutions or non-governmental organizations such as:
-Children’s and Adolescents’ Protection Department
-Ombudsman’s Office
-Public Ministry
-Community Learning Centers (Cecodap).
*The child’s name has been changed to protect his identity.
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#child #suffering #bullying
If bullying is not addressed jointly by the family, school, and, if necessary, professionals in the field of psychology, minors could face serious consequences.
According to expert Bolívar, changes in the temperament of children or adolescents might lead to symptoms of anxiety, stress, or depression. He clarified that these symptoms are different from anxiety and depression disorders.
In more extreme cases, individuals experiencing bullying may develop aggressive behaviors, conduct disorders, or selective mutism, which is when a child suddenly stops speaking in certain social situations.
How to Address Cases of Bullying?
To help a child or adolescent experiencing these symptoms, the expert recommends creating a support plan that allows parents, guardians, and teachers to collaborate through continuous communication.
An alliance must be created with the children, not to take on the role of friend, but to connect more easily with their emotional side and know how to ask the right questions without the child feeling like they are being interrogated,” he said.
The psychologist recommends asking these questions occasionally and selecting one question per day to avoid overwhelming the child or adolescent or making them feel like their privacy is being invaded.
Questions to Ask Children and Adolescents, According to the Specialist:
– How did school go and what did you learn?
– What’s your best friend’s name?
– Do you learn a lot from your teacher?
– Do you like your group of classmates?
– What do you not like about your classroom?
The psychologist emphasized that schools should be safe and comfortable environments for children and adolescents, allowing them to Flourish academically and socially.
“Children spend a significant portion of their lives at school, so it is crucial for them to feel secure. Schools must be proactive in identifying incidents of bullying, as well as addressing disruptive behaviors among students, and should initiate direct communication with parents or guardians,” Bolívar said.
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