With nearly one-third of students in the United States having experienced bullying in school, and
nearly half of adolescents report having been the object of cyber-bullying, October is National
Bullying Prevention month. Sadly, only a small percentage of children who are bullied report
it; believing adults can’t do anything about it.
Below I have copied “Bullying: Tips for Parents” from www.MentalHealthAmerica.net.
Spot the Bullies
* Both boys and girls bully. Boys bully more often and are more likely to experience physical
bullying. Girls are more likely to experience emotional bullying and sexual harassment.
* Bullies usually pick on others out of frustration with their own lives. They target other children
because they need a victim who is weaker than them.
* While they may feel uneasy about it, many children tease their peers simply to go along with
the crowd.
* Bullying is linked to depression. They are more likely to have low self-esteem, be easily
pressured by others, be less able to identify with the feelings of others, view violence in a
positive way, and have difficulty in following rules.
Know Their Targets
* Those who are seen as being different from their peers or are weak, depressed, less popular, or
unable to get along with peers are more likely to become victims of bullying.
* Females in high school (22 percent) are twice as likely as male high school students (11
percent) to report being cyber-bullied.
* LGBTQ youth are at special risk of being bullied; up to 85 percent report having been verbally
harassed, and 40 percent physically assaulted.
Take Steps to Stop It
* Start early. Parent/child talks are essential. Teach kids to respect others before they start school
and continue to talk about this topic on an ongoing basis. Even small acts of teasing should be
stopped in their tracks.
* Teach your children how to be assertive. Encourage your children to express their feelings
clearly, say no when they feel uncomfortable or pressured, stand up for themselves without
fighting and walk away in dangerous situations.
* Stop bullying when you see it. Adults who remain silent when bullying occurs are encouraging
it and making it worse.
* Listen and support children who speak up. Telling an adult about bullying is not easy for
children. If a child comes to you seeking assistance with bullying, spend time listening to
them and provide affirmation and support before taking actions.
* Recognize the signs of depression. Youth who experience persistent bullying can develop
signs of depression like sadness, isolation, poor concentration and sleeping problems. These
symptoms can affect their relationships and school performance. Many children do not
recognize or speak up about their emotional needs. Make sure to reach out and get them help
when you see these signs.
* Tell your children to take action when they see bullying behavior. Tell them to speak out
against the bully and inform a teacher if the behavior doesn’t stop. Bullying continues only
when we allow it to.
* Communicate clear policies and consequences. Bullying is less likely in schools where adults
are involved and firm about stopping bullying behaviors. Send out a clear message at your
school that bullying will have negative consequences.
* Team up. Work with your PTA or local MHA affiliate to make sure that schools treat bullying
as violence. Help them develop programs to prevent bullying and promote safe school
environments.
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