Is your child being bullied? According to a survey by the American Justice Department he or she might be. The survey concluded that one out of every four children will be abused by another child each month*. That is twenty-five percent of our youth who will undergo physical, verbal, or emotional abuse at the hands of another child.

Schools, which may have once seen youth bullying as part of an innocent hazing process, have begun cracking down on bullies as parents are demanding safer environments for their children. Some educational instituions have had cameras installed, added more counselors to their programs, and have instituted a zero-tolerance policy against student harassment. Still, bullying persists as parents and teachers find it impossible to monitor every area of a childs life. Bullies have just become more creative.

Children who are victims of bullying are affected in a number of ways. Some act out aggressively by abusing other children and even adults. Others simply retreat into themselves by skipping school, getting lost in video games or the internet, or avoiding places they used to enjoy.

As children are treated badly by other children they experience feelings of fear, pain, and inadequacy. They may not tell anyone about their abuse, even their parents. They may be too embarassed to confide in an adult or they may wish to protect their parents, the very people who should be protecting them. Parents need to be vigilant in identifying behaviors that seem out of character for their child rather than wait for a verbal dialogue which may never come.

If you suspect that your child is being bullied talk to him or her. Use examples of how you have felt bullied in your own life, even as an adult. This will help to gain their trust in opening up to you. Listen to your child carefully, and let them know that no one deserves to be treated badly by another person. Set good examples of how to treat others with respect and dignity. Finally, give them pointers on who they can go to if they need to find a safe place.

Because bullies prey on people with low self-esteem, it is important to help your child build up his or her feelings of personal power and self-worth. Finding something that your child can excel in will help lay the foundation for a positive self-image. Many after-school activities, such as dance and martial arts, are designed to unlock your childs individual potential in a positive way, giving him the tools he needs to be successful and self-assured. When your child feels confident and fully aware of his own personal power, chances are the bullying behaviors will end.

*Statistics taken from http://www.atrumsoc.org