Bullying at school is a serious problem that affects many children and adolescents. Fortunately, there are solutions to deal with it and protect our children. In this article, we will explore the different forms of harassment, including cyber harassment, and present practical advice on how to react in the event of bullying at school.

Understanding harassment: different types and manifestations

Bullying can take several forms and affect children and adolescents in various school situations. Among these forms, we find:

• Verbal harassment: mockery, insults and rumors that target the victim.
• Social harassment: the voluntary exclusion of a child from a group or activities.
• Physical harassment: hitting, shoving and other physical violence.
• Cyberharassment: the distribution of humiliating messages, photos or videos on the internet and social networks.

How to recognize the signs of harassment?

It is not always easy to detect if a child is being bullied. However, certain signs can alert parents or teachers:

1. Sudden changes in behavior: irritability, sadness, withdrawal, sleep problems, etc.
2. Decline in academic performance or loss of interest in school.
3. Physical signs (bruises, scratches) or psychosomatic signs (headaches, stomach aches).
4. Reluctance to go to class or participate in group activities.
5. Damage to school materials or theft of personal items.

Reacting to harassment: listening, support and actions to take

When you suspect harassment, the first step is tolisten carefully to the child and reassure him. It is essential to show him that he is not alone and that it is possible to find solutions to stop the harassment.

Dialogue and communication with the educational team

Once informed of the situation, parents must contact their child's school, middle school or high school. Management, teachers and the educational team have a crucial role to play in preventing and combating harassment:

• Establishment of a listening and mediation unit for student victims and their loved ones.
• Organization of meetings with parents to prevent and identify cases of harassment.
• Application of appropriate sanctions against students responsible for harassment.

Collect evidence and testimony

In the case of cyberbullying, it is important to preserve the evidence acts of harassment (messages, photos, videos) in order to support the words of the child victim. These elements can be useful in raising awareness among school authorities and, if necessary, initiating legal action.

Harassment awareness and media education: long-term work

To effectively prevent bullying at school and on the internet, a comprehensive approach is necessary. This involves better training of educational staff, but also the implementation of media and digital citizenship education programs for students:

• Teach children to identify and report situations of harassment.
• Support young people in their use of the internet and social networks, emphasizing the importance of protecting their privacy and that of others.
• Promote the development of socio-emotional and relational skills among students (empathy, cooperation, conflict management, etc.).
• Organize awareness campaigns on the dangers of harassment and cyberbullying, involving the entire educational community (students, parents, staff).

Resources and support for victims and their families

Several public and private organizations offer resources to help children and adolescents who are victims of bullying get out of it:

1. Organizations specializing in listening and supporting young victims and their families.
2. Discussion and support groups for students and/or parents affected by school bullying.
3. Educational and prevention tools for education professionals (guides, posters, videos, etc.).

In summary, dealing with harassment at school and on the internet requires collective awareness and the implementation of a global and coherent approach. L'listen, dialogue and training are essential to protect our children from harassment and promote a calm and respectful school climate.