My 13 yr old girl is getting picked on?

[Boys Town]

Getting picked on or bullied 20 years ago often stopped when the school bell rang, but with social media (cell phones, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) it can follow a person through the night. Those early teen years can be rough years as the kids are trying to figure out who they are, what they value, what makes a good friend. Add going through puberty to it and it can be quite the mix.

Although bullying is never acceptable, some people are more prone to be victims - those that have a physcial or mental diability, those that are of a different nationality, color, culture, sexual identity, or class. Kids can be targets for a variety of reasons. It could be for reasons like immaturity, a "love" interest, or even as simple as giving a wrong answer in class.

Check in with her frequently. Talk to her about her day. Monitor the social media. Computers should be turned off at a certain hour, cell phones turned in at night, even ipods since many kids can text through their ipod touches. Know her passwords, and make it clear that you will check her contacts periodically. If there is repeat bullying from a source, report it to the school. Many schools actually have bullying policies in their handbooks for these very reasons. Her teachers may be able to give you some input on what they are seeing at school too.

There are some good resources out there for kids if they are dealing with a bully. Be sure to check these websites out. Your daughter is a good age for it.

Laura - Crisis Counselor