Bullying: By the Book
Bullying is ANY hurtful behavior that is done on purpose to harm another person. Bullying can take many forms, such as verbal, physical, relational and cyberbullying. It can make kids feel scared, lonely, embarrassed, sad and even sick.
Here are some common examples:
- Verbal: name-calling, teasing, yelling
- Physical: pushing, hitting, pinching, tripping
- Relational: spreading rumors, telling others not to play with a particular classmate or leaving a classmate out of an activity on purpose, breaking up friendships, purposefully ignoring someone (aka giving the “silent treatment”), publicly humiliating a person
- Cyberbullying: using the Internet, mobile phone or other form of digital technology to harm another person, such as sending cruel text messages or posting rumors or gossip about another person
But What Can I Do?
Priority No. 1 is to stay safe. That might involve simply avoiding contact with your bully or it might mean finding an adult. Don’t skip a class, but try a different route to avoid trouble. Try to avoid areas that lack adult supervision, as bullies are less likely to bully in the presence of an adult. Next, avoid bullying back or responding at all. You could escalate the situation to a violent one. And be sure to report the incident to a trusted adult.
If you’re a witness to bullying, it’s important to remember there are no innocent bystanders. If you laugh at the bully or egg him on, you’re a bully too.
Reference: American Psychological Association online article: How parents, teachers, and kids can take action to prevent bullying
Content contributed in part by Erica Maniago, Ph.D.
