Most Gauteng schools open on 14 January, but for some pupils school is a living hell due to bullying.
Anxious parents no doubt worry about their children being bullied, but help is at hand in the form of the magazine Soul Buddyz, A guide for parents. It provides useful tips and advice to parents, pupils and schools on how to deal with bullying.
The magazine states that bullying can have a lifelong negative effect on bullies and victims. Bullying can extend from the school to the streets, parks, and children’s homes, and bullies often defend themselves by saying they were only teasing or joking, yet there are clear differences between bullying and fun.
Bullying can also be physical or emotional which includes teasing, name calling, threatening and excluding one from the group.
Such acts often elude the attention of teachers and children are afraid to report it.
Therefore it is incumbent upon parents to be vigilant for the following signs:
- Child doesn’t want to attend school, or play sport and pretends to be sick.
- Child doesn’t sleep properly and has bad dreams.
- Child’s eating habits change to eating more or less suddenly.
- Child’s school performance changes.
- Child is happy on weekends and holidays and depressed on school days.
- Child has physical marks or torn and dirty clothes.
- Child’s pens and books are damaged.
Details: Soul Buddyz, Soul City; A guide for parents
