TAP top app download banner
theAsianparent Singapore Logo
theAsianparent Singapore Logo
Product Guide
Sign in
  • Together Against RSV
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • Events
  • Holiday Hub
  • Aptamil
    • Immunity
    • Intelligence
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • VIP

Boy wanted to ‘hurt’ himself; distressed parents blame bullying

4 min read
Boy wanted to ‘hurt’ himself; distressed parents blame bullying

Bullying can have a scary impact on your child. Here's how you can equip yourself and your child to deal with this ever-increasing menace!

Bullying is something that can scar the one on the receiving end, for life. It need not necessarily be a physical form of one-upmanship. Even something seemingly harmless like making fun of someone or name-calling can leave an indelible impact on the person.

So when Tom and Dru Ahlborg of Denver heard that their son wanted to hurt himself because of being bullied in school, they decided to act. The couple’s 13-year-old son was being harassed in the school and it was affecting the boy emotionally.

According to reports, the schools apathy towards this made the parents file a lawsuit against the educational institution. As told to 9Wants To Know, the parents wanted to throw light on how schools deal with bullying. “We don’t want this to happen to the next child, Dru said. “I feel helpless. You just want to hug him, especially when he starts talking about hurting himself. I don’t want to lose my son,” added the mother.

Another high schooler Aaria Nitin, recounts with horror, the instance of bullying she experienced when she got admission at a reputed school closer home. “On day one of school when I was asked to carry two of my classmates’ bags, I thought it was a stray case of ragging and would end there. But then it continued for five consecutive school days and on day six, I didn’t want to go to school,” confessed the 15-year-old. Luckily for Aaria, her parents intervened and school authorities took necessary action and today the school has strict anti-bullying rules.

However, some succumb to this growing bane of bullying and withdraw into a shell, affecting their self-confidence.

For tips to bully-proof your child, continue reading.

According to reports, the National Centre of Educational Statistics say that almost one out of four students complain about being bullied at school. So if it’s something this rampant, it becomes a necessity to build the child’s resilience against bullying. Here are some tips to make your child bully-proof:

Make them aware: Explain the concept of bullying. Help them know when they are being bullied and when it is just in jest. The moment it affects them, either emotionally or physically, they must raise an alarm and inform the parents, siblings or the school authorities.

Raise confident and happy children: A self-confident child is half-ready to deal with bullies. If you are busy teaching him the right way to brush his teeth or walk, you may be missing out on vital time to instil a sense of self in him. He may grow up thinking he needs to be corrected all the time, and thereby assume being bullied is just a part of it. Teach him manners, but also tell him that he is perfect the way he is.

Inculcate problem-solving skills: Instead of coming to his rescue for the smallest of concerns, help him find a solution. As long as you let him know that you have his back, he will do fine. Raise self-reliant children who can identify solutions to their issues.

Face it, don’t flee from it: If the solution to your child’s problem is fleeing from it, then that in itself is a problem that needs to be addressed. This may make him believe that it’s okay to not reveal about the bullying or the ragging that ensues in class and before you know it, it’s too late to make amends.

Hear him out: Pay attention to your child’s so-called banter. It could be during one of those silly banters that he talks about being bullied at the play ground. Never miss out on cues that are part of his regular updates. If he doesn’t believe in talking, ask leading questions. “How was your day at school?” or “Which part of the day do you like the most?” to begin with, will help.

It may not always happen that your child walks up to you and talks about being bullied. As a parent, look out for signs that hint that perhaps all is not well with your kid.

Be sure to check out theAsianparent Community for more insightful stories, questions, and answers from parents and experts alike. If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ to stay up-to-date on the latest from sg.theAsianparent.com

[Image courtesy: Pixabay]
Partner Stories
Unlocking Financial Independence for the Next Generation
Unlocking Financial Independence for the Next Generation
Balabala Brings More Fun to VivoCity with its Grand Opening!
Balabala Brings More Fun to VivoCity with its Grand Opening!
Travelling with Kids? Here’s How to Keep Sore Throats at Bay According to a General Practitioner
Travelling with Kids? Here’s How to Keep Sore Throats at Bay According to a General Practitioner
Embark on an Educational Journey at the PCF Sparkletots Open House on 19th October!
Embark on an Educational Journey at the PCF Sparkletots Open House on 19th October!

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Divya Nair

  • Home
  • /
  • Parenting
  • /
  • Boy wanted to ‘hurt’ himself; distressed parents blame bullying
Share:
  • Don't Be Confused, Here's How to Calculate the Age of a Premature Baby

    Don't Be Confused, Here's How to Calculate the Age of a Premature Baby

  • She Moved Countries So Her Son With Autism Could Finally Be Understood

    She Moved Countries So Her Son With Autism Could Finally Be Understood

  • Woman Got Pregnant After 19 Years, Thanks to AI

    Woman Got Pregnant After 19 Years, Thanks to AI

  • Don't Be Confused, Here's How to Calculate the Age of a Premature Baby

    Don't Be Confused, Here's How to Calculate the Age of a Premature Baby

  • She Moved Countries So Her Son With Autism Could Finally Be Understood

    She Moved Countries So Her Son With Autism Could Finally Be Understood

  • Woman Got Pregnant After 19 Years, Thanks to AI

    Woman Got Pregnant After 19 Years, Thanks to AI

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
  • Family Occasions
  • Lifestyle
  • Normal Delivery
  • Ages & Stages
  • Trying To Conceive
  • News
  • TAP Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
© Copyright theAsianparent 2025. All rights reserved
About Us|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it