Kids Health Watch is brought to you by our friends and Magnolia Springs Pediatrics
I want to discuss a few important topics that come up every year and have recently come up in both my practice and the national media. First is bullying. As you know, bullying is when one child picks on another child repeatedly. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or even social. It can happen at school, on the playground, on the bus, in the neighborhood, or over the internet. Next, I want to talk about backpacks and safety issues for your child.
Let’s discuss if your child is being bullied. Often, it can take a while to discover what is going on. Some kids are embarrassed, and some feel threatened if they “tell on” the bully. Look for clues, especially a sudden fear of school, the playground, or even someone’s house. Bullies prey on fear, so if it is happening, here are some ways you can teach your kid to respond. First, look the bully in the eye, stand tall, stay calm in a difficult situation, and then walk away. This seems simple, but a bully only wants to pick on someone scared and fearful. Then, teach your child how to say firmly: “I don’t like what you are doing “or “Please do NOT talk to me like that!” The other important key is to teach your child when and how to ask for help. If it continues to be a problem, then alert school officials and work with them on solutions. And last, but not least, ensure there is an adult who knows about the bullying and can watch out for your child’s safety and well-being when you cannot be there.
Now, the flip side is when your child is the bully. While none of our children would “ever do anything like that,” the reality is…. it happens. So, be sure your child knows that bullying is never OK, and set firm and consistent limits on your child’s aggressive behavior. And be a positive role model. Your children learn most of their behavior at home. So, show children they can get what they want without teasing, threatening, or hurting someone. When disciplining your child, use effective, non-physical discipline, such as losing privileges. If it becomes a frequent problem, work to devise practical solutions with the school principal, teachers, counselors, the child’s physician, and, most importantly, the parents of the children your child has bullied.
If your child has witnessed any of this, then tell your child not to cheer on or even quietly watch bullying and remind your child to tell a trusted adult about the bullying. Teach your child to support other children who may be bullied and encourage your child to include these children in their activities. And certainly, teach your child to join with others in telling bullies to stop.
The last thing I want to touch on are backpacks. Every year, it seems kids have more books to carry from class to class and back and forth from home to school. This weight can cause many problems, including back, neck, and shoulder pain. It’s important to have a backpack that is lightweight, but sturdy and has two wide, padded shoulder straps and a waist strap. To help prevent injuries, remind your kids always to use both straps and tighten them close to the body. In addition, pack all of the heaviest items closest to the center of the pack and remind them to bend down using both knees instead of at the waist. Most importantly, encourage frequent stops at lockers and only carry home what they need.
See your doctor to discuss back-strengthening stretches and exercises if your child is symptomatic. As always, good luck this school year. Check out the resources on aap.org.
Robert L. Rux, M.D. is a Board Certified Pediatrician at Magnolia Springs Pediatrics. Originally from Mobile, he attended medical school at The University of Alabama School of Medicine (UAB) and completed residency at The Children’s Hospital of Alabama (UAB).