118 Hawaii Parent May/June 2026 Why Is This Topic Important? Bullying is sometimes dismissed as a normal part of growing up, but that view misses how serious it can be. Repeated bullying can affect a child’s mood, self-esteem, sleep, concentration, relationships, and sense of safety. A child who is bullied may become anxious, sad, withdrawn, or easily upset. They may start avoiding school, losing interest in activities, or struggling academically. For some children, the effects show up physically. They may have frequent headaches, stomachaches, poor sleep, low appetite, or sudden changes in energy. For others, their emotions can be affected. They may cry more easily, isolate themselves, become self-critical, or even seem hopeless. The longer bullying continues, the more it can wear down a child’s confidence and ability to cope. Bullying also affects learning. Children do best in environments where they feel safe. When a child is focused on avoiding humiliation, watching for threats, or worrying about what will happen at lunch, recess, on the bus, or online later that night, it becomes much harder to focus on school. Despite the serious consequences, many children do not report bullying right away because of embarrassment or possible retaliation. Some worry adults will overreact. Others think nothing will change. That means parents often need to notice the signs and make it clear that talking about bullying is very important. How Can Parents Help? The first step is to build open communication. Children are more likely to talk when parents ask regularly, listen calmly, and do not rush to judge or lecture. Instead of only asking, “Did anything bad happen today?” it often helps to ask broader questions such as, “Who did you spend time with today?” or “Was there any part of the day that felt hard?” These
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