SOS
If you think a child may be a victim of bullying, think SOS.
The following prompt focuses on 3 areas: children’s attitudes to SCHOOL, a parent, carer, or teacher’s general OBSERVATIONS, and things a child might SAY.
School
- Frightened of walking to or from school.
- Doesn’t want to go on the school/public bus.
- Refuses to go to school.
- Suddenly starts asking to be driven to school.
- Begins to skip classes or leave school without permission.
- Performance in schoolwork begins to drop.
- Has dinner or other monies continually ‘lost’.
- Comes home from school ‘starving’.
Observations
- Becomes withdrawn, anxious, or lacking in confidence.
- Becomes aggressive, abusive, disruptive, or unreasonable.
- Starts stammering.
- Changes their usual routine.
- Feels ill in the mornings.
- Comes home with clothes torn, property damaged or ‘missing’.
- Has unexplained cuts or bruises.
- Bullying or is mean to others.
- Changes in eating habits.
- Changes in a child’s attitude to accessing technology.
- Afraid to use the internet or mobile phone.
- Nervous or jumpy when a cyber message is received.
- Sudden/Unexplained changes in friendship groups.
Say
- Mentions suicidal thoughts.
- Attempts or indicates that they are self-harming.
- Threatens or attempts to run away.
- Cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares.
- Asks for money or starts stealing money.
- Is frightened to say what is wrong.
- Gives improbable excuses for their behaviour.
If you are worried because you are witnessing these behaviours – then take action. Talk to everyone in the child’s circle – their teachers and/or their designated safeguarding lead. Bullying is very rarely a complete secret.