No one wants to imagine that their child is being bullied. We want our kids to only have the best life possible. That being said, bullying can be found around the world. It can be as basic as name calling and can go all the way up to life threatening situations. No matter how dangerous or how unimportant the bullying might seem, it is always important to address bullying.

But how do you detect when your child is being bullied? Most of the time you child won’t simply come out and say that they are being bullied. You have to look for the following signs in your child to detect potential bullying.

Low Self-Esteem

Most children have trouble with self-esteem at some point in their lives. It can be difficult to fit in at school and their bodies are going through changes. But if your child suddenly starts experiencing low self-esteem it could be a sign they are being bullied. Especially if it is combined with other signs on this list.

Frequent Illness Or A Regular Desire To Stay Home

If your child is normally healthy but is regular saying they are ill and want to stay home, this could be a sign that they are bullying. Many victims of bullying will try to avoid school by staying home sick. This could also be expressed as a regular desire to stay home.

Unexplained Injuries Or Regular Injuries

Children who are being physically bullied will often come home with unexplained injuries. It could be cuts and scrapes or it could be broken bones, depending on the seriousness of the injuries. If this happens more than once, or you suspect it is due to bullying, it is important that you address it with your child.

Unless your child engages in a very rough sport, regular injuries, even explained ones, are something to look out for too. Regular injuries could be a sign that your child is being bullied.

Nightmares Or Difficulties With Sleep

Nightmares or difficulties with sleep can be a sign of trauma or anxiety. Bullying can cause both of those and more. So if your child is having nightmares and/or having difficulties with sleeping and there is no other reason for it, they might be being bullied.

Signs Of Self-Harm

Many victims of bullying turn to self-harm to try and make themselves feel better. They could believe that there is something wrong with them or they are not good enough. Others self-harm because the physical pain eases the emotional pain. Look for signs of self-harm such as frequent cuts, scars, and similar signs. But self-harm could also include your child not using the restroom at school and rushing home to use the bathroom every day.

Sometimes self-harm might take the form of unexplained injuries that were mentioned above. Another form it can take is self-destructive behaviors, behaviors such as running away from home or sabotaging their own efforts.

Declining School Performance

A sudden change in a child’s grades is something to keep an eye on. Grade shifts are usually a sign that something has changed in the child’s life. One of the things that can be a sign of is bullying.

Change In Habits And/Or Routines

Most children (and adults too) have habits and routines that they establish over the years. Sometimes these habits and routines change in the spur of the moment but that isn’t often. Changes to habits and routines usually happen slowly or rapidly due to some change. Bullying is one of those changes. A child who is being bullied will often start to alter their routines and habits, even ones that have been long established.

These are some of the signs that you need to look for if you are concerned that your child might be being bullied. Even if you aren’t concerned that your child is being bullied they are worth knowing so you have an idea of what to keep an eye out for in your child and others.

One last thing to keep in mind is that any of these signs by themselves could be an indication of any number of things. They don’t necessarily indicate bullying. However, they are all signs that have been seen in those who are bullied. If you think that your child is being bullied you should try talking to your child or seek professional help.