It’s estimated about two out of ten children get bullied. Bullying is defined as an unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. It can cause lasting issues for both the victims and the bullies themselves.

Dan Marullo, PhD is a child psychologist at Children’s of Alabama. He says it’s important for parents to be in tune with what is going on in their child’s life so they can help recognize when a child is being bullied versus when they’re dealing with regular conflict.

Marullo identifies four different types of bullying:

Physical aggression
Cyberbullying
Social bullying
Verbal bullying

While physical aggression is a type of bullying most adults think of, Marullo says cyberbullying is becoming much more prevalent through phones and social media. Social bullying involves isolating children and excluding them from certain activities. Verbal bullying is more emotional and involves name calling or continuous teasing.

How should a parent respond if they believe their child is the victim of bullying? Marullo says it all depends on the circumstances. “You want to teach your children how to cope and deal with conflict,” he says. “But you also want to protect your child if there’s a need to step in, certainly if it’s systematic or physical.”

“So when does it get to be a problem?” Marullo asks. “Anytime you see a systematic behavior, then it’s a problem. Certainly, if you’re seeing an ongoing issue and signs of struggle,” he says. Signs of bullying can include:

Change in sleep habits
Change in appetite
Change in behavior
Withdrawal from activities they enjoy

While physical bullying can be especially alarming to a parent, it’s important not to overlook the pain that emotional bullying can cause. Marullo says constant teasing and exclusion can be very painful for a child and parents may need to take steps to ensure the school is aware of the situation.

He also recommends parents help their child build self-esteem. “Make sure your child is in an environment they can feel good about to build their self-esteem in a real way,” he says. “Being engaged in things that are meaningful for the child and the family are important like church, sports, or the arts.”

Parents can play an important role in helping their child navigate conflict. Provide a listening ear to hear about their day, but also encourage children to talk about the positive things that are happening in their life. If a parent has concerns, they can always talk to their pediatrician or a child psychologist for additional help.

At Birmingham Mommy we are always thinking of ways to better serve the Moms and families in the Birmingham Area. One way is to discuss topics that are important to you. Homeschooling is becoming more and more popular in our area and we’ve noticed!

Each Month, I, our resident Homeschool Mom, will cover homeschooling topics that are of interest to Birmingham Homeschool Mommies. This month I’d like to discuss why my family chose to homeschool.

I am an avid Netflix binger. Lately, I’ve been watching ‘Call the Midwife”. And something the narrator said really resonated with me. “ There are two reasons we do anything in this life. Love or Fear.” And that really describes my family’s homeschool journey thus far.

As a first time mom, my decision to homeschool my oldest daughter, really was made out of fear. The thought of sending her off to school away from me eight hours a day when up until then she had always been at home with me, was more than I could handle! I just didn’t feel ready to share her with school. Maybe that’s a little selfish, but I’m just being honest with you.

In all fairness, I lived in a good school district with caring teachers, she would have been fine. And she would have thrived. My girl is a smart, social butterfly. But I went ahead and dove in with homeschool.

The only thing that helped me through those first couple of self doubting years, was that I had a friend a couple of years ahead of me homeschooling her children. She was such an encouragement to me, I think every potential homeschool mom needs a friend/mentor like that!

As the years passed, I realized that fear was no longer a factor in our homeschool. It was love. I loved being the one to teach her to read, and see her enjoyment of books grow. I love teaching her new math concepts and watch her be confident in solving equations. I love the flexibility it gives our days. I love that I get to spend so much time with my children. Homeschool really is a gift. Is it always an easy task? Nope. But doing things even when they’re hard is good lesson for all of us.

With homeschool being a growing option in the United Sates and in Alabama, there are more resources out there for homeschool families. There are special homeschool days at parks and attractions, more online curriculum options, co-ops for homeschool classes, and even the inclusion of homeschoolers in sports at public schools. Homeschooling in the U.S. as a while up to 3.3% of school aged children in 2015/16 from 1.9% in 1999 according to responsibleschooling .org

No matter where you are on your homeschool journey, I hope that Birmingham (Homeschool) Mommy can be your go to spot for encouragement and information on Homeschooling in the Birmingham Area!

About Abby:

Abby is a Writer, Wife and Homeschooling Mama to 3. She live in Springville, AL with her Family.

The Birmingham Zoo is offering Foster families the opportunity to become Zoo Members! This new member level was created to support Foster families by inviting them to visit the Zoo throughout the year with added benefits not included with regular daily admission. Zoo membership grants exclusive perks and access to special member events, discounted programs and more!

“Foster families are important to us and extraordinary in their commitment. The Birmingham Zoo wants to honor that commitment in offering access to fun and educational resources here in our area at a low cost to them,” said Birmingham Zoo CEO & President, Chris Pfefferkorn. “Our goal is to provide a place where families can come explore the natural world in a unique setting and leave feeling connected to that world through education and conservation. A trip to the Zoo is a great experience that creates amazing memories for everyone. Our commitment to supporting the Birmingham community is being enhanced with our new Foster family initiative.”

Foster Family Zoo membership is $50 for one year and includes two adults and up to six children with the option to add additional guests and children. For more information about Foster Family Membership contact the Birmingham Zoo Membership Team at 205.879.0409 ext. 231 or membership@birminghamzoo.com. To purchase a Foster Family Membership, please visit the Zoo Membership office (ID and verification required).