Q: “School Bullying Gave My Child Social Anxiety That Persists at Their New School.”
“After-school clubs and activities can help your child identify and interact with like-minded peers in a safe space. Once they gain confidence, a teen can move on to a one-on-one friendship.”
By Rosanna Breaux, Ph.D.Verified Updated on February 1, 2024
Q1: “We’re moving my son, who has ADHD, to another school. He has been bullied from elementary to high school by the same group of students. I want him to join a group at his new school, but he’s been rejected so many times over the years that he doesn’t want to risk it. What should I do?”
I just want to validate how hard this is and the importance of advocating for your student by moving him to a different school and trying to set him up for success.
Sometimes, smaller-group social interaction, even with one or two other peers who have similar interests, is better than trying to jump into a larger group or sports team. So, if your student likes basketball and he meets another student who likes the sport, your son might invite them to shoot hoops after school. You also might want to think about less competitive activities, like musical performances, that encourage positive peer interactions.
It gets more complicated in high school. Teachers typically don’t recognize shared interests among students like elementary school teachers do, but after-school clubs and activities can help your child identify and interact with like-minded peers in a safe space. Sometimes, once they gain confidence from a successful club or online interaction, a teen can move on to a one-on-one friendship.
Bullying Risk Factors
School bullying remains a serious problem in U.S. schools, particularly for students with ADHD, autism, learning differences, and other comorbidities. In an ADDitude survey, 61% of more than 1,000 caregivers said their neurodivergent child was bullied at school.
Children are at greater risk of becoming a bully, or being bullied, if they have:
ADHD, anxiety, and/or autism
Poor inhibition
Developmental delays
Difficulty making friends
Poor self-regulation
https://www.additudemag.com/school-bullying-social-anxiety-adhd/