'Don't Push My Kid Around'

Linda Chapman says her 10-year-old son Jordan, is a stellar student, he's even made honor roll before. But lately, she says the 4th grader hasn't been himself. "Once he started from day one it was like a hate the 4th grade, I don't like the 4th grade," Said Chapman. The 4th grader says bullies are to blame. "Sometimes they cag me up which is when they trip you up and you have to get your balance as quick as you can,"said the 10-year-old. His mother Linda says it's affected his grades. "That's not fair for him education wise because it's like he's being cheated out of his education because it's bothering his concentration," Said Chapman.
But she says she was shocked when another parent told her Jordan had threatened to hurt himself. "Right now you can't say what a child would do, they could say it and don't mean it and they could say it and really mean it,"Said Chapman. Linda says she's spoken with Jordan's teacher and says the school is keeping an eye on the situation. According to Psychologist Michael Rosenbaum she is doing the right thing."Bullying is tormenting a child that is not a psychologically safe environment and could progress to the point in which it's not a physically safe environment," Said Dr. Rosenbaum. Dr. Rosenbaum says a child who is bullied continuously is at a high risk for developing anxiety or depression. He says if you feel your child may be getting bullied...encourage them to talk about it. He says if the situation doesn't improve, you should contact a mental health professional.

For more information on what you can do to protect your child from bullies click on the "Bullying" link to the right.