Identifying that a child is harassed at school is far from easy. However, certain specific signs must alert parents and make it possible to detect a situation of school harassment more quickly.
For a parent, detecting that a child is harassed at school is never easy. Most affected students are silent what they suffer at home. And adults can easily take the facts for simple arguments between comrades. Hence the importance of learning to identify the real signs of school harassment and to remain attentive to changes in behavior.
1 – The child no longer wants to go to school
School harassment has consequences on the daily life of the child. “”A student, who suddenly does not want to go to class, or hangs his feet, is not a puller-au-flank“, Explains Nora Fraisse in her guide” Stop harassment! “You must indeed pay attention to this discomfort which can be characterized by a difficulty in getting up in the morning, a rejection of the school, the desire to stay at home, the fear of taking the school bus, delays or requests for money. Your child can thus ask you to accompany him, exceptionally, before the door of the school, until the grids. At the end of the evening.
2 – The child has injuries, his damaged equipment
No matter how much he repeated that he fell without doing it on purpose, your child is not at this point clumsy. His equipment is regularly vandalized, he asks you for a new kit, because his own has accidentally took the water, he loses his notebooks, his coat, he returns home with sludge stains or injuries … The child will try to hide his injuries, even if it means lying so as not to worry his parents.
3 – The child is exhausted and has disorders
His fear of going to class and facing these stalkers can be transformed by anxieties, stomach aches, crying, listed or nausea. He must constantly stay on guard, be vigilant to his environment and that exhausts him. “”He can also do nightmares, develop eczema, lose his hair, have hormonal disturbances, especially for girls (delay in rules for example), or even a stiffness“, For her explained to us psychologist Hélène Romano.
4 – The child is isolated
A child victim of harassment is gradually isolate himself. “”He is not invited to the birthdays of his little comrades, and has the contact details of anyone. Besides, if he misses a course and he wishes to catch him, he will not know who to contact “, specifies Hélène Romano. He will tend to play alone and get backwards, sometimes even hide in the toilet or permanent contract during recess, to eat at the canteen to better take refuge. He will try to avoid the places frequented by his classmates, and will not want to celebrate his birthday at home.
5 – The child is in school failure
The victim may have difficulties in concentrating in class. The school, supposed to be where the child feels protected, then becomes dangerous for him. The child has trouble staying attentive. He wins, and it is felt in his academic results. When he is old enough to do so, he will go so far as to dry the lessons, without warning anyone. In the meantime, he will try to avoid his attackers by being systematically late or absent.
In addition, at home, it can also seem absent and concerned, being agitated, complaining, having a loss of appetite or even becoming irritable and aggressive. These are also signs to perceive.
