For parents

Effects of bullying: what can parent do

Consequences of violent behaviour and threatening

Bullying Exposure to violence may have many consequences, like: loneliness, depression, sadness, intimidation, uncertainty, low self-confidence, even sickness, present throughout life. Findings show that victims of bullying at school are more depressed at the age of twenty than those who were not victimised by bullying.

Published: 07.05.2012. | Read more >

Why do children start behaving violently?

Bullying There is no simple answer to this question. However, there are some characteristics of the family and the child which affect the development of violent behaviour, as well as some characteristics of schools which may encourage or prevent violence.

Published: 07.05.2012. | Read more >

Recognising a bully

Very often bullies themselves have been victims of physical abuse and bullying at school or in the family.

Bullying Bullies need to feel control and power over others and sometimes lack empathy for their victims. They are defiant, confronting adults, antisocial, and tend to break school rules.

Published: 07.05.2012. | Read more >

School in the prevention of bullying

How can school help in stopping and preventing violence and intimidation?

Aktualno School School is responsible for violence happening at and in the vicinity of school premises! School principal, teachers and professionals are obliged to prevent and stop every form of violence at school and, if necessary, to cooperate with the police and social services.

Objavljeno: 07.05.2012. | Pročitajte više >

Supporting the child in the situations of moving house or changing schools

Adults forget that maintaining contact with friends and people they have left behind is easier for them than for their children

Family time Moving house to another part of the city or to another city is part of the life experience of many families and children. The child, as well as the whole family, experiences big changes, e.g. changing kindergarten or school, loss of familiar neighbourhood and environment, friends and peers s/he has played with, favourite place to play, etc. In time, children and youth, typically, adapt well to the environment they moved to.

Published: 03.05.2012. | Read more >

Chronically sick child

Stresfull events Data from literature show that the prevalence of chronic diseases in children is 10-15% in the world and, equally so, in Croatia. Most often it is insulin dependent diabetes, epilepsy, bronchial asthma, locomotor system diseases, cardiac diseases, chronic colon inflammations and leukaemia.

Published: 02.05.2012. | Read more >

Stress in childhood

While caring about all children, it is especially important to take care of those who have experienced more stressful events during their development or who have even had traumatic experience.

Stresfull events Both in adults and in children stress is recognised as emotional reactions (sadness, anxiety, panic, mood changes, anger…), cognitive reactions (self-criticism, impaired concentration, forgetfulness, intrusive thoughts…), physical reactions (palm sweating, heart beating, flushed face, abdominal pain, headache…) and behavioural reactions (crying, stamping, aggression, uncontrollable fits of rage, withdrawal…)

Published: 02.05.2012. | Read more >

Children and pets

Most experts advise against taking a pet before the child is in his/her sixth year of age.

Family time Topics The majority of children want a pet and such a need should not be neglected. Habits and obligations of the family and the family conditions, as well as the natural needs of the chosen pet should be considered in the process of making a decision to take a pet.

Published: 01.05.2012. | Read more >

Adequate choice of leisure activities for your child

It is important to bear in mind that among so many requirements for the best education, participation in sports, mastering various skills, the key requirement of childhood–family life, should not be neglected.

Family time Topics Organised leisure activities stimulate child's social development, provide opportunities for practice and new skills acquisition and are most often entertaining for children. Insecure and withdrawn children, as well as children with lower self-esteem are prone to evaluate themselves through success in these activities while children with good academic achievement who have much free time mostly spent in front of their computer or TV, should be motivated to do something creative, stimulating and useful so that they can spend quality leisure time.

Published: 06.03.2012. | Read more >

How to help the victim of peer bullying

Bullying We talk about peer bullying when one or more children deliberately and repeatedly disturb, attack, hurt or exclude from play and activity a child who cannot defend. Such abuse may have the form of threats, physical injuries, exclusion, mockery, teasing, gossiping, taking property, destroying property and is often followed by unpleasant comments about the child's family or relatives

Published: 12.05.2011. | Read more >

A parent places a child in the middle when the child is asked to be a carrier of adult messages, asked to keep secrets, or asked to serve as a spy in the other household. When a parent trashes the other parent to the child, half of that child is being trashed also. Such issues take their toll on a child's self-esteem and sense  of well-being. Any movement along the continuum from conflict to cooperation, no matter how small, is a move to benefit the child.

Good to know From the Book: Working with high-conflict families of divorce