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IS YOUR CHILD BEING BULLIED?
What You Can Do to Help
Listen
A new school year is a prime opportunity for kids to make new friends among their classmates. Unfortunately, kids also form connections during the school year that aren’t always positive, and many children become the targets of school bullies. If you suspect your child is being bullied, there are a few things you can do to help.
When your child does open up, the best thing you can do is listen. It can be
tempting to try to give them advice or question the way they handled the situation, but doing this can give your child the impression that it’s their own fault they are being bullied. Let them tell you the whole story, without judgment, and then help them come up with ideas on what to do next. Once you’ve been informed that your child is being bullied, you should inform teachers as soon as possible. Apart from that, there are several ways you can help your child to deal with bullies, so talk to them about what approach they would be most comfortable with, such as de-escalation strategies or a buddy system with their friends. As with most conflicts, the sooner you handle the situation, the better. Finding the Right Solution There are many great birding hotspots you can visit with your family. A few local favorites are Lake Guntersville, Hays Nature Preserve, and Monte Sano State Park. But if you’re a fan of waterfowl, we recommend taking a trip to the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). In addition to being home to 12 federally listed endangered or threatened species, this refuge has been a safe haven for wintering waterfowl and other migratory birds since 1938. Over 285 species of birds have been spotted in the Wheeler NWR, and it’s a favorite destination for ducks in the fall and winter. Over 30,000 individuals of many different species congregate in the area including mallards, wood ducks, American wigeons, northern pintails, gadwalls, and green-winged and blue-winged teals. Go Birding With Dr. Duling! This fall, Dr. Duling is taking a trip to Wheeler NWR to see how many different species of duck she can spot, and all our patients are invited! It will be a great time to enjoy the beautiful fall weather and say hello to some of Alabama’s fowl visitors. the Alabama skies, including broad-winged hawks, northern harriers, and peregrine falcons.
Know the Signs
Kids usually don’t open up about being bullied right away. However, there are some common signs that your child is being harassed. Here are a few of them: • If they’re refusing to go to school or ride the bus, they may be dreading their bully. • If they’re rushing to the bathroom after school, it may indicate that they’re being bullied in the bathroom, which is a common tactic bullies use to avoid teachers. • If their grades suddenly change, it may be the result of constant harassment. • Anxious or depressed moods can be the result of bullying as well.
If you spot one or more of these signs, it’s time to talk to your child about what’s happening to them at school.
BIRD
MIGRATION SEASON STARTS IN ALABAMA!
September marks the start of the fall migration season. Over the next few months, Alabama will play host to many species of bird that cannot be seen during the rest of the year. Large flocks of Carolina chickadees will sweep through the skies, often joined by tufted titmice. Robert E. Reid of “Bird Watcher’s Digest” has this tip for Alabama birders: “Never disregard a chickadee or titmouse, as they may be the only vocal signal of the presence of many other birds.” Philadelphia vireos, Swainson’s thrush, and ruby-crowned kinglets will also be in abundance, as will many species of raptor. In the fall, you will be able to spot many different kinds of raptors in
WATCH
Where: 3121 Visitor Center Road, Decatur, AL 3560
Visit FWS.gov/refuge/wheeler for more information.
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256.534.1475
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