TL;DR
Turn the school run and nap time into listening time
- Thousands of audiobooks, podcasts and originals
- Listen on your phone, tablet or Echo — also offline
- Cancel anytime
A MadeForMums feature published for Bullying Prevention Month describes less obvious signs parents noticed after their children experienced bullying, including anger, self-critical comments, school avoidance and attempts to hide parts of their appearance. ONS figures cited in the report estimate that in the year ending March 2023, 35% of children aged 10 to 15 in England and Wales experienced in-person bullying behaviour and 19% experienced online bullying behaviour. These signs can have other causes, so the report advises parents to look for persistent changes and talk with their child.
A MadeForMums report published for Bullying Prevention Month describes how parents discovered their children were being bullied after noticing changes such as anger, self-critical comments, school avoidance and attempts to hide their appearance. The feature pairs parents’ accounts with expert commentary and cites Office for National Statistics figures showing that bullying is not always reported to another person.
The ONS estimates cited by MadeForMums say that, in the year ending March 2023, 35% of children aged 10 to 15 in England and Wales experienced an in-person bullying behaviour, while 19% experienced an online bullying behaviour. Among children who experienced those behaviours, 14.7% of those affected in person and 18.1% of those affected online did not tell anyone. The figures describe reported experiences of bullying behaviour; they do not establish the cause of any individual child’s change in mood or conduct.
One parent told the publication that their son initially thought what was happening was “just a game.” The family later noticed increasing anger, statements that he hated himself and refusal to attend school. The parent said play therapy and drawing helped the family understand what was happening. The child is now home educated, and the family described him as happier and thriving.
Another parent, Neha, said her daughter was repeatedly bullied about upper-lip hair. Neha noticed her daughter trying to pull the hair out and wearing her hair down to cover her face before she understood the reason. She told MadeForMums that it took “lots of open communication” for her daughter to explain what was happening, and that her daughter is now more open about reporting problems at school.
Changes Parents Said They Missed
The report matters because children may not describe their experiences as bullying, even when behavior is causing distress. A child may see hurtful teasing as a game, worry that speaking up will damage a friendship, feel embarrassed, or blame themselves. The figures cited by MadeForMums also show that some children who experience bullying behaviour do not tell anyone, meaning adults may need to notice changes and make it easier for children to talk.
Examples in the feature include a child becoming unusually angry or withdrawn, making negative comments about themselves, avoiding school, spending less time with friends, or changing how they dress or style their hair to hide a feature. These are possible warning signs, not proof. The NSPCC, as cited in the report, says changes in behaviour, appearance and emotional wellbeing can be indicators but do not necessarily mean bullying is happening.
Alexander Kopelman, founder and president of the Children’s Arts Guild and author of For Real, told the publication that parents can pay attention to whether a child seems to be “contracting”: becoming more guarded, quieter or giving up interests and ways of expressing themselves. That description is an expert’s perspective, not a diagnostic test. A sustained change or several changes together may warrant a calm conversation and, when needed, professional support.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
MadeForMums framed the feature around Bullying Prevention Month in October and asked parents in its Club community to share how they learned their children were being bullied. It also consulted Kopelman about why children may not identify or disclose what is happening. The source is a reported feature built around parent accounts and expert commentary, rather than a new survey or an official announcement of policy.
The report notes that bullying can take forms beyond direct confrontations: exclusion from a friendship group, jokes that hurt, comments about appearance, or upsetting messages sent online. Online messages can reach children outside school hours, while social exclusion or teasing may be hard for adults to observe directly. The ONS figures cited in the article are for England and Wales and concern the year ending March 2023; they should not be read as current-year estimates or applied to other places.
The source also says there is no definitive checklist for identifying bullying. Kopelman’s comments and the parents’ stories offer examples to watch for, while the NSPCC guidance cited by the feature stresses that behavioral or emotional changes can have explanations other than bullying. The useful point is to notice what is out of character and ask about it without assuming the cause.
““We noticed it happening, but my son thought it was just a game.””
— A MadeForMums Club parent describing their son
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Warning Signs Are Not Proof
The signs in the report cannot establish on their own that a child is being bullied. Anger, withdrawal, appearance changes, low self-esteem or school avoidance may have other causes, and the feature does not provide a clinical screening tool. It also does not give a complete account of the experiences of all children or establish how common each individual warning sign is.
The ONS figures are estimates for children aged 10 to 15 in England and Wales during the year ending March 2023, not a real-time count. The report does not provide newer figures or enough detail here to compare the prevalence of particular forms of bullying over time. Each parent account is an individual experience and should not be treated as representative of every family.
It may take time for a child to explain what is happening, and the source does not identify a single response that will work in every case. If a child expresses self-hatred or refuses school, Kopelman recommends seeking professional support, according to the feature; the report does not specify a particular service or diagnosis.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Start With A Calm Conversation
The practical next step described by the feature is to notice persistent or unusual changes and ask the child open, non-judgmental questions about school, friendships and online interactions. Parents can give a child time to answer and make clear that they can talk without being blamed. The parent accounts suggest that communication may take repeated conversations rather than a single question.
If a child shares a concern, the report supports taking it seriously and seeking appropriate help when distress persists. Parents can speak with the school about what the child has described and ask what steps can be taken to address it. If a child is expressing self-hatred or refusing to attend school, the feature recommends professional support. It does not state that one intervention or outcome is guaranteed.
No further announcement or follow-up data is included in the source material. The ONS figures remain tied to the year ending March 2023, and the article’s parent accounts provide examples rather than a new measurement of bullying. Readers should distinguish those experiences from population-level evidence while staying alert to changes in a child’s wellbeing.
bullying awareness posters for kids
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
What changes might prompt a parent to ask whether something is wrong?
The report lists possible signs including unusual anger, withdrawal, negative comments about oneself, school avoidance, less time with friends and attempts to hide a feature of one’s appearance. None confirms bullying by itself; look at whether the change is out of character, persists or occurs alongside other changes.
How many children experienced bullying behaviour in the figures cited?
ONS estimates cited by MadeForMums say that in the year ending March 2023, 35% of children aged 10 to 15 in England and Wales experienced an in-person bullying behaviour and 19% experienced an online bullying behaviour. These figures apply to that age group, place and time period.
Why might a child not tell a parent?
The feature says a child may feel embarrassed, fear that speaking up could make matters worse, or not recognise the behavior as bullying. One parent said their son thought it was “just a game.” The ONS figures cited also estimate that some children who experienced bullying behaviour did not tell anyone.
Do these signs mean a child is definitely being bullied?
No. The NSPCC guidance cited in the report says changes in behavior, appearance or emotional wellbeing can be potential indicators but do not necessarily mean bullying is taking place. A calm conversation can help clarify what the child is experiencing; persistent distress or self-hatred may call for professional support.
Source: rss
Cold & flu season Picks
humidifiers
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
