Schoolyard of hard knocks

Quick pop-culture quiz question for you ... What did Arnold Jackson (played by Gary Coleman on "Diff'rent Stokes") fear more than anything?

The Gooch.

Yup, the schoolyard bully that used to threaten to knock him all around if he didn't cough up his lunch money. The Gooch - the bane of Arnold Jackson's existence. But this bullying situation is not only reserved for 80s sitcoms; rather, it is a very real problem facing many kids across the country.

Studies show that bullied kids are more likely to have sleep troubles, upset stomachs, depression, and anxiety, in addition to under-performing at school. If your kid happens to be on the Arnold Jackson end of these schoolyard incidents, psychologists suggest the following means of support:

• Always remind your child that it is not his or her fault
• Boost your child's confidence by getting them involved in activities they enjoy, such as sports, art, etc.
• Contact teachers or after-school program counselors and provide specific information about the incident(s)
• Be aware that "cyber-bullying" -- kids posting and writing mean comments online -- can also be occurring, so take steps to filter out emails of this kind

You can find additional tips by clicking HERE.