Bullying: It’s Not OK

FACTS ABOUT BULLYING

• Both girls and boys can be bullies.
• Bullies target children who cry, get mad, or easily give in to them.
• There are 3 types of bullying.
• Physical–hitting, kicking, pushing, choking, punching
• Verbal–threatening, taunting, teasing, hate speech
• Social–excluding victims from activities or starting rumors about them

BULLYING HAPPENS:

• At school—in the halls, at lunch, or in the bathroom, when teachers are not there to see what is going on.
• When adults are not watching—going to and from school, on the playground, or in the neighborhood.
• Through e-mail or instant messaging—rumors are spread or nasty notes are sent.

Bullying is when one child picks on another child again and again. Usually, children who are being bullied are either weaker or smaller, are shy, and generally feel helpless.

BULLYING IS DIFFERENT FROM FIGHTING OR TEASING:

• A bully has power over another child.
• Bullies try to control other children by scaring them.
• Being picked on over and over can make your child a victim.
• Bullying usually happens when other children are watching

TALK WITH YOUR CHILD ABOUT BULLYING

Even if you don’t think your child is bullied, a bully, or a bystander, you will be helping to protect your child just by asking these questions:

• “How are things going at school?”
• “What do you think of the other kids in your class?”
• “Does anyone get picked on or bullied?”

When your child is bullied, talk with your child about how to stay safe. Bullies always pick on smaller or weaker children. If there is a fight, and the bully “wins,” this will only make matters worse for your child.

HELP YOUR CHILD LEARN HOW TO RESPOND

Let’s talk about what you can do and say if this happens again.

Teach your child how to:

• Look the bully in the eye.
• Stand tall and stay calm in a difficult situation.
• Walk away.

Teach your child how to say in a firm voice:

• “I don’t like what you are doing.”
• “Please do NOT talk to me like that.”
• “Why would you say that?”
  

Just telling your child to do and say these things is not enough. For many children, these skills do not come naturally. It is like learning a new language—lots of practice is needed. Practice so that, in the heat of the moment, these skills will come to your child naturally.