Each student who has been impacted by, or involved in, bullying others will respond and act differently.
A student's behaviours and moods can change for a variety of reasons.
Teachers, parents and carers need to be alert to the possibility that a change in a child's behaviours and moods could be related to bullying.
If you are concerned about your child’s behaviour or mood, talk with them about school and ask general questions about how things are going.
Download a list of possible
signs of bullying .
For teachers
Signs a teacher might notice include if a student:
- seems upset, unhappy or angry
- starts to experience conflict with peers
- is sitting alone during class or lunch times
- does not want to talk about what is wrong
- withdraws from friends and activities they previously enjoyed
- drops in academic performance.
For parents and carers
Signs a parent or carer might notice include if their child:
- doesn't want to go to school or participate in school activities
- changes their method or route to school or is frightened of walking to school
- drops in academic performance
- experiences changes in sleep patterns
- experiences changes in eating patterns
- has frequent tears, anger, mood swings
- takes money from home
- has unexplained bruises, cuts, scratches
- loses or brings home damaged belongings or clothes
- arrives home hungry.
The signs of possible cyberbullying can be the same as signs of other bullying, but include other behaviours with phones, computers and other devices, for example:
- being hesitant about going online
- seeming nervous when a notification, message or phone call appears
- being visibly upset after using their phone or computer, or suddenly avoiding it
- closes the screen, or hides the mobile phone when others enter the room
- spending unusually long hours online
- receiving suspicious phone calls, emails or packages.