Bullying is a prevalent issue, with 70%-80% of school-age students reporting that they have been involved as a bully, victim or bystander. Sixty percent of bullying incidents, however, aren’t reported to an adult.

For parents, teachers and school counselors, it’s essential to be proactive about promoting the well-being of children and teens. Bullying is a serious issue that concerns a majority of young people, but adults can make a difference with careful monitoring and preventive strategies.

Cyber Bullying is a Major Issue for Teens

Although bullying is nothing new, a rise in prevalence of cyber bullying is impacting the daily lives of many teens:

• 59% of teens have experienced some form of bullying online
• 32% have experienced spreading of false rumors

Teens see online harassment as an issue that needs to be fixed, and some believe there is room for improvement in how adults respond to cyberbullying. For instance, only 42% of teens say that teachers do an excellent/good job in responding to such bullying.

Monitoring for Signs of Bullying

Parents, educators and school counselors can spot bullying by watching for potential warning signs like:

• Decreased self-esteem
• Unexplainable injuries
• Lost/destroyed clothing or possessions
• Frequent headaches, stomach aches, or faking illness
• Sudden loss of friends
• Changes in eating habits
• Difficulty sleeping
• Self-harm or talking about suicide
• Running away from home
• Declining grades or loss of interest in school

Is A Child Bullying Others? Top Signs

Parents, teachers and counselors must also monitor children for signs that they are bullying others, like:

• Involvement in physical or verbal fights
• Increasing aggression
• Frequent detention
• Unexplained ownership of extra money or new belongings
• Preoccupation with their reputation or popularity
• Friendship with bullies
• Lack of responsibility for their actions
• Excluding or ostracizing others

When adults recognize these signs in children, there are several steps that they can take to halt bullying. See the below infographic produced by the St. Bonaventure University online Master of Science in Education School Counseling program