WAB Learns: Elementary Library: Bully Prevention Month (Oct)

Bullying

What is Bullying?

Bullying is repeated and deliberate physical, verbal, or social attacks or intimidation directed toward another person. There is a real or perceived imbalance of power between the person displaying bullying behavior and the person harmed. Bullying may be done by one individual or a group and is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology.

In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:

An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.

What is the protocol for reporting?

We encourage all reporters to:

Communicate your concern with the classroom teacher.
Communicate your concern with a school administrator.
Request a face-to-face meeting with the school to discuss concerns/events/allegations.

Online Resources for Parents

Bullying/Medline Plus
Defines and provides links covering overviews, latest news, diagnosis/symptoms, prevention/screening, coping, specific conditions, related issues, clinical trials, journal articles, organizations, law and policy, statistics, children, and teenagers.

Dealing with Bullying: Helping Bullied Kids and Teens
Defines and provides tips for dealing with a bully. It also reveals myths and facts about bullying, steps to stop bullying, how to deal with child who is a bully, and how to move on after being bullied.

stopbullying.gov
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services site to provide tools to understand, prevent and respond to bullying. Includes videos and policies and laws.

Pacer.org/Bullying
Resources for parents and educators including educational toolkits, awareness toolkits, contest ideas, promotional products and more.

Cyberbullying Research Center
University directed resource for parents, educators, law enforcement officers, counselors, and others who work with youth. Find facts, figures, and detailed stories as well as prevention and response resources.

Dealing with Cyberbullying
Includes tips for kids and teens dealing with cyberbullying, tips for parents and teachers to stop cyberbullying, and resources and legal information.

Bullying Help Guides

Dealing With Bullying
From the organization, KidsHealth. You may think that bullying only takes place on the playground, but bullying can and does occur in high schools as well. Just because you are a teenager does not make bullying any less serious. Bullying happens for different reasons when it happens in high schools. It also yields many different results. This article discusses the types of bullies, what to do if you become a victim of bullying, what to do if you are the bully, and how to stop bullies. There are also related articles that may be of interest to you along with additional resources that provide you with more information.

Bullying/Cyberbullying Guide
From the organization, HelpGuideOrg International

How to Deal with Bullies
From the organization, Stomp Out Bullying

Warning Signs

What are some signs that my child may be displaying bullying behavior?

Frequent name calling
Regular bragging
A constant need to get his or her own way
Spending time with younger or less powerful children
A lack of empathy for others
A defiant or hostile attitude; easily takes offense

What can I do if my child has been bullied?

Foster your child’s confidence, and assure him or her that he or she is not to blame for the bullying.
Be willing to take action when needed.
Find out what the bullying plan is at your child’s school; work collaboratively with school personnel to address the problem.
Offer support to your child, but don’t encourage dependence on you.
Don’t encourage aggressive behavior; instruct your child not to bully back.
Help your child develop new friendships.
Stay involved, and be supportive of your child's school and extracurricular activities.
Stay informed about what your child is doing and with whom he or she is socializing.
Promote respectful behavior:
- Spend quality time with your child.
- Know your child's friends.
- Be consistent about discipline.
- Eliminate toys, games, and TV shows that reward aggression.
- Encourage your child to be slow in taking offense.
- Make sure your child knows what other children expect.
- Help your child see other points of view.
- Teach your child the difference between tattling and telling. The purpose of tattling is to get someone in trouble; the purpose of telling is to help someone stay safe.

What can I do if my child tells me he or she is a bystander? (A bystander is a student who sees another student being bullied.)

Teach your child not to laugh at or join in bullying.
Tell your child to join with other bystanders and “stand up together” to convince the person displaying bullying behavior to back down.
Help your child learn how to help the person harmed walk away.
Assure your child that he or she can tell a trusted adult in the school.

What are some signs that my child may being harmed by bullying behavior?

Sleeplessness or nightmares
Drop in grades
Unexplained cuts, bruises, or scratches
Damaged or missing clothes, books, or belongings
Withdrawal or loss of interest in hobbies or friends
Frequent complaints of headaches or stomachaches
Frequent requests to stay home from school
Exhibiting nervous or fearful behavior about attending school or riding the bus

Elementary Library: Bully Prevention Month (Oct)