Children with autism are at a higher risk of being bullied by others. Kids can be very cruel to their peers, and when someone is different from them, it can lead to verbal, physical, or emotional bullying. Combating bullying for children with autism can be challenging as they may not have the communication skills necessary to tell a parent or caregiver they are being bullied. Social skills groups can give your child with autism the skills necessary to inform others about being bullied and how to recognize bullying behavior.
At Camp Worth, we help teen boys and girls aged 11-17 in the Fort Worth area develop their social skills. Our therapists work with teens with varying levels of symptoms and can help improve your teen’s communication skills and practice appropriate behavior in various social settings. To get help with dealing with bullying for teens with autism, call 855.915.2545 or complete our online form today to learn more about our social skills groups and other autism treatment programs.
Recognizing Bullying of Your Child with Autism
If your child with autism is being bullied, it can adversely affect their development and increase unwanted behavior. Getting your child to talk about bullying behavior can be difficult if they don’t know how to comprehend their feelings. To help recognize the signs of bullying, the physical signs of bullying include unexplained bruises or cuts, ripped or missing clothes, and not eating their meals at lunch.
Some of the behavioral signs that your child with autism is being bullied include:
- Frightened to go to school or walk to the bus alone
- Mood swings
- Nightmares
- Frequent crying with no clear reason
- Withdrawing from family and friends
If a child with autism experiences bullying over an extended period of time, it is possible they may then begin to bully others. Camp Worth can help deal with bullying for teens with autism by helping your teen understand their emotions and how to express them before bullying becomes a learned behavior.
Combating Bullying for Children with Autism
To help your child with autism combat bullying, our Camp Worth team has made of list of some helpful tips to help children open up about what is happening to them.
Some of these tips include:
- Start a conversation about bullying with your child. Use pictures and videos to show examples of bullying to help them identify what is happening to them. Teaching them how to recognize bullying behavior and why it is inappropriate is the first step in helping your child stand up for themselves.
- You can help your child with autism better deal with bullying by helping them understand the physical symptoms of bullying, like sweaty palms, rapid heart rate, and an upset stomach. You can teach them calming techniques like deep breathing to help keep them remain calm. Role-playing with your child can teach them how to respond to the bully. Such as looking them in the eyes, saying, “You are being a bully,” or “Leave me alone,” or simply, “No!”
- Reporting any bullying behavior is vital in alerting teachers and caregivers about the unwanted behavior. If you spot physical evidence of bullying, contact the right person at the school or care center right away. The US Department of Education has clear rules on reporting any bullying against children with disabilities, and by ignoring these rules, they may be hindering your child’s development.
Help Your Teen Learn Valuable Social Skills at Camp Worth
At Camp Worth, we help frustrated teen boys and girls aged 11-17 with combating bullying for children with autism. Social skills groups will give your teen the communication skills necessary to stand up to a bully and tell parents or caregivers about the unwanted behavior. To get help with dealing with bullying for teens with autism, fill out our online form or call 855.915.2545 today to learn more about our social skills groups.
