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When School Starts, Some Children Carry Last Year’s Fear BY J U L I E C A D M A N : H E A L I N G CO M P L E X K I D S
The new school year is almost here. For some children, it doesn’t feel like a fresh start. It feels like going back to the place where they were mocked, excluded, threatened, humiliated, or made to feel unsafe. And as the first day gets closer, that fear may start showing up at home. Maybe your child couldn’t explain what happened. Maybe they feared that speaking up would make things worse. Watch for stomachaches, sleepless nights, mood changes, withdrawal, or a sudden dread of going back. Bullying is not just “kids being kids.” It can affect a child’s confidence, health, learning, behavior, and sense of safety.
Ask for a Safety Plan Your child deserves a safety plan that covers the full school day, including the classroom, hallway, lunchroom, bathroom, playground, bus, recess, and transitions. Before the year starts, ask what specific steps will be in place, who is responsible, and how concerns will be communicated if something happens again. If your child has an IEP or 504 Plan, request a team meeting and ask: “Is the bullying affecting my child’s ability to access their education?” That question matters, and so does the answer. At Healing Complex Kids®, we created a free Parent Action Checklist to help families know what to document, what to ask, and what steps to consider next. Because when your child is being bullied, you don’t need vague reassurance. You need a plan. And you don’t have to do this alone. This information is educational and does not replace advice from an attorney, advocate, medical provider, therapist, or other qualified professional.
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Free Parent Action Checklist
Scan the QR code to receive the checklist, or visit HealingComplexKids.org/checklist-download
What Parents Can Do Now Start by writing it down. Create a simple bullying log: YOUR BULLYING LOG • What happened, and when and where. • Who was involved or witnessed it. • Which adult was told. • How your child was affected afterward. Also save the proof: screenshots, emails, photos, nurse visits, attendance and behavior records, or notes about anxiety, sleep, or school refusal. Put your concerns in writing and request written responses. 22
August 2026
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