Bulling

Bullying can be defined as any unwanted words or physical actions intended to make a person feel bad.  Bullying can be anything from hitting and kicking to threats, teasing, and taunting.  This type of victimization is one of the most serious problems that children face in schools today.

If you are being bullied...

Being a victim of a bully is a terrible experience.  You can feel helpless and hopeless.  But you can prevent some of the harassment and possibly stop the mistreatment all together.  Here are some great steps to take to stop the bullying:

Talk to someone else nearby and ignore the bully.

Stay with a group and avoid being alone in potentially dangerous places such as locker rooms and bathrooms.

If the bully demands anything from you, give it to them willingly and then report the robbery.  Your number one priority is your safety!

Agree with the bully by saying “You’re right” or “Sure” and walk away.

If you can, stay away from the bully all together.

Give yourself a pep talk, affirming your self-confidence.

Do not choose fighting as an option.

Tell an adult, especially if you are in physical danger.

Act as if the bullying doesn’t bother you.  The bully is likely to stop if he or she does not get a reaction.

If you are a parent who believes your child is being bullied…

Often a child will not come to you and admit to being bullied, but you can watch for the following warning signs in your child:

Becomes withdrawn and socially isolated

Experiences frequent nightmares and cries him/herself to sleep

Has a noticeable drop in grades

Has a noticeable change in eating habits

Develops a fear of walking to school or riding the bus

Appears frightened or hesitant to go to school

Refuses to attend school or skips class

Exhibits a significant change in behavior or personality

Inflicts injury onto himself or herself

Talks about or attempts suicide

If your child is being bullied, you can help.  The first essential step is to listen to your child, their friends, and other children and teenagers who live nearby and attend the same activities.  Learn as much as you can about the environment your child is living in.  You can develop a profile of your child’s personality and behavior since early childhood and examine how it has changed over the years.  You can arrange a meeting of concerned parents and citizens in the community to discuss any problems in the school system that may be allowing bullying and violence to continue.  You can teach your child assertiveness and talk about specific situations and specific people that may confront your child.   You can also suggest some of the following ideas to your child:

Talk to someone else nearby and ignore the bully.

Stay with a group and avoid being alone in potentially dangerous places such as locker rooms and bathrooms.

If the bully demands anything from you, give it to them willingly and then report the robbery.  Your number one priority is your safety!

Agree with the bully by saying “You’re right” or “Sure” and walk away.

If you can, stay away from the bully all together.

Give yourself a pep talk, affirming your self-confidence.

Do not choose fighting as an option.

Tell an adult, especially if you are in physical danger.

Act as if the bullying doesn’t bother you, the bully is likely to stop if he or she does not get a reaction.