In 2023, 19 percent of high school students were bullied at school, according to the CDC, with girls reporting being bullied at a higher rate than boys. Of course, bullying happens in the younger grades, too. It can be the cause of real emotional distress, physical symptoms such as stomach aches, and even school refusal. So, what can parents do about it?

This week at childmind.org, we’re talking about bullying, one reason why some kids dread going to school. We help you decipher the signs of bullying— including cyberbullying — with questions to ask to figure out what’s happening, and how to tell when it’s isolated teasing or meanness versus something more serious. Some kids who are bullied don’t want parents to get involved, so we have advice on how to help kids self-advocate but also recognize when they should reach out to adults for help. And if your child is the one doing the bullying or is labeled the troublemaker, we have suggestions on how to turn things around with support from both you and the school.

— Michelle Shih, Managing Editor | ✉