Posted Wednesday, September 1, 2010 --- 6:52am

Bullying was once considered a childhood rite of passage but today it is recognized as a serious problem.

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, up to half of all children are bullied at some point during their school years.

Deirdre Green, a clinical specialist with Meriter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, says parents should keep in mind the warning signs of bullying.

"A lot of kids may feel fear or shame or embarrassment so if you notice your child seems unusually reluctant to go to school all of sudden they're always late or they're very early or their belongings are disappearing with unusual frequency,"says Green.

If you suspect your child is being bullied, Green suggests encouraging your child to talk to you and says you should talk to school personnel about your concerns.

"It's also good for kids to know though that they do have some power especially if they see a friend being bullied they don't have to stand by as a bystander they can say something or encourage their friend or themselves just to walk away and leave the situation," says Green.

Green says parents can be good role models to show kids how to treat others.

There can be long term affects of bullying, including depression, anxiety and low self esteem.

For more resources on bullying click on Newslinks.