it’s time to step in

Bullying is intimidation and harassment over a period of time; it’s a systematic and ongoing routine; it’s more than just teasing and comes in different forms of verbal or nonverbal manipulation and coercing over a period of time. The bullies themselves are also victims because either they have been bullied or because of their own insecurities bully others to feel better; this could be caused by their siblings and even parents. Bullying can have serious consequences. Children and youth who are bullied are more likely than other children to: Be depressed, lonely, anxious, have low self-esteem; Be absent from school; Feel sick; and Think about suicide. Ms Agnes Kabeera, a teacher at City High School Kampala, says the first step is to identify that your child is being bullied. There are many signs - a child can start avoiding school, lose their property, or start when going to school. “When a parent realises this, they need to support and listen to their child; the child needs to know that they have backup, that they have someone they can count on. Let them know that you as a parent or guardian are going to do something about it. “Do not let your child handle the problem alone because it can greatly affect their self esteem and confidence in the long run,” Kabeera adds. Grace, a mother of four, says when she realised her son was being bullied; she at first did not think much of it, believing it would pass. She advised her son to walk away from the situation or rather ignore it, but things worsened when he cried every time she dropped him at school.