October is National Bullying Prevention Month. bullying has reached beyond the traditional school grounds and now includes harassing or intimidating someone by text message and posts on social media.
Eagle Pass ISD Police Department DARE Instructor Michael Torralba urges parents to be more involved with their children's social interactions. Students who are bullied don’t report it due to fear.
Look for changes in the child. However, be aware that not all children who are bullied exhibit warning signs.
- Unexplainable injuries
- Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry
- Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick or faking illness
- Changes in eating habits, like suddenly skipping meals or binge eating. Kids may come home from school hungry because they did not eat lunch.
- Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares
- Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school
- Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations
- Feelings of helplessness or decreased self esteem
