If you're a parent, you never want to hear that your child is getting bullied at school. Studies show that being bullied can affect a child both emotionally and academically.
However, there are signs you can look out for as a parent, like loss of focus, declining grades, change in mood or sleep patterns.
Maria Graciano, a therapist and counselor at Family Counseling Service, said a change in a child's behavior could be a sign of bullying taking place at school.
"If they're coming home and usually they're happy to see you, but now they're kind of sad or they don't want to be around anybody, you want to question what's going on," Graciano said.
A change in behavior as a result of bullying could even begin at the age of five.
"(For example) If other kids in his class aren't friendly or are really making fun of him or her," said Graciano. "So absolutely, that starts to kind of tear down who you are and makes you question who you are even at a small age."
Young kids don't know how to cope with these kinds of feelings, so it's important as a parent, to encourage open and honest communication with your child.
Graciano also said, they've recently been seeing more kids ages 7 to 10 years old show signs of depression, anxiety, and having suicidal thoughts as a result of bullying.
