How to Protect Kids From Bullying

http://www.babysitting.net/blog/how-to-protect-kids-from-bullying-without-turning-them-into-a-bully/

If you think that any of these things have happened to your child then you should read this article about bullying:

• Comes home with torn clothes.
• Is missing sweaters, jackets, school supplies, or other things repeatedly.
• Has unexplained cuts, bruises, and scratches.
• Is afraid of going to school, walking to and from school, or riding the school bus.
• Suddenly begins to do poorly in school.
• Is sad, upset, angry, or depressed when she comes home.
• Complains frequently of headaches, stomachaches, being tired, or other physical ailments that would prevent her from going to school.
• Has few friends.

These are but a few of the things that could be going on with a child who is being bullied. Talk to your child often keeping the lines of communication open and helping him to feel comfortable coming to you with problems that may be going on at school/with peers. Some signs of bullying are not so obvious and can go on for an extended period of time. It is important to be persistent with the school staff when it is going on to take care of the matter, sometimes you have to make them take it seriously:

Griffin had a problem with bullies, I later found out that the kids were laughing at him in class when he had a meltdown and it really hurt Griffin's feelings. The teacher didn't tell me and Griffin kept telling me that he was being bullied and I told the staff and nobody would do anything until finally that one teacher told me that. By then it was too late for Griffin the emotional scars were there and he will never forget it. In the IEP meeting the teachers told me that it was because of Griffin's perception but that doesn't matter because it is real to him and it hurts just as much when someone pushes him and doesn't mean it, to him they are being a bully.

We have tried to explain it to him but he still doesn't understand how someone can push you or step on your foot and not mean it without being a bully. We always say we are sorry at home so he expects others to say it too but I told him that not everyone will say that to him but it can still be an accident. He just doesn't understand so I expect that his teachers to understand that he doesn't  because he has autism and they don't!