Your Concerns about Fighting, Hitting, or Bullying, School Age
Your Concerns about Fighting, Hitting, or Bullying, School Age
You said that your child often fights with others. Your child may also use bad language,
or break things. When your child does these things, it is upsetting to you and/or his/her teachers.
Your child may be acting in one or more of the following ways:
Fights at school or in the neighborhood
Swears or uses bad language (sometimes at school)
Hits or tries to hurt self when angry or frustrated
Breaks things (with some serious damage)
It is possible that your child may also be doing one or more of the following:
Often has temper tantrums
Argues a lot with adults
Refuses to do what adults tell him/her to do
Tries to annoy or upset people on purpose
Blames others for his/her mistakes or behavior
Is touchy or easily annoyed by others
Often angry; Holds a grudge
Mean and hateful talking when upset
Seeks revenge or tries to "get even"
Fighting with or Hurting Others
Bullies, threatens or frightens others on purpose
Starts physical fights
Has used a weapon (e.g. a bat, brick, broken bottle, knife or gun) that could hurt someone else
Hurts people or animals on purpose
Has attacked someone and stolen from them
Forced someone to have sex with them
Breaking Things or Setting Fires
Sets fires on purpose
Breaks or ruins other people's things on purpose
Lying or Stealing
Has broken into someone else's building, house, or car
Lies to obtain goods or favors or to get out of things
Steals items when others are not around (e.g. shoplifting)
Does Not Follow Rules
Often stays out at night even though parents tell him/her to come home earlier
Runs away from home
Often skips school
Warning Signs that Things are Getting Worse:
Your child is doing several of the things listed above within a short time period
Your child gets suspended from school
Your child's teachers are concerned
S/he spends a lot of time with friends who act in a similar way
If you think these problems are getting worse talk to your child's doctor,
even if you have discussed these things before.
