For weeks, Ralph has been quiet and withdrawn when he comes home from school. Sometimes his pants are torn and his clothes dirty. When Ralph’s par-ents ask him about his day, he says little and gives evasive answers. His mood has changed a lot recently and there is little left of the once cheerful and carefree boy. As his grades deteriorate and Ralph barely wants to go to school anymore, his parents decide to take action.
Does this example seem all too familiar to you? That’s not surprising, as nearly a third of all school children in Germany have been harassed by their class-mates at some point. Mobbing is not limited to any one age group and can already begin in early childhood. The possibilities of the Internet have also in-creased the variety of mobbing actions, especially among young people. In chats, on forums or on social media portals the victims are publicly offended or harassed. The inhibition threshold for cyber bullying is particularly low be-cause the perpetrators can remain unidentified. Due to the anonymity of the Internet, bullies are not directly confronted with their victims’ reactions.
What are the consequences of mobbing?
In addition to stress, a gradual loss of energy and a damaged sense of self-worth, performance at school also diminishes. Affected children quickly fall into a vicious cycle because mistakes accumulate and weaknesses become more and more obvious, which confirms their low opinion of themselves. The body responds with stomach problems, headaches, dizziness and similar re-actions, which can also be accompanied by sleep disorders.
Why does mobbing occur?
At school, mobbing can arise due to a poor classroom climate, for example where mistrust and power struggles dominate the classroom. If a teacher is overwhelmed, boundaries become blurred and bad behavior is not disci-plined until it’s too late. Often there is no emotional support for either perpe-trators or victims.
But what can we do about it?
Children should not let themselves be forced into the victim role and are al-lowed to defend themselves!
- Speak directly to the mobber(s) and ask them about their motives.
- Keep a diary to gather examples of unfair attacks without using the word bullying
- Talk to the child’s teacher
- If there is no improvement and the situation cannot be changed, changing schools is often the last resort.
Do you feel desperate and don’t know how you can help your child? Get to know us. Together we’ll look at your situation, formulate meaningful goals for further work or find a solution.
Kind regards