What is Bullying?

Bullying occurs when someone repeatedly does or says something that has power over the other person, resulting in fear, humiliation, anxiety, and alienation. Kids experience different kinds of bullying to various degrees as they get older, but the bottom line is that bullying should not be accepted by anyone at any time.

The Evolution of the Bully

Everyone's familiar with bullying stories depicted in Hollywood movies; the big kid with the denim jacket, bandana, and penchant for others' lunch money. But, in reality, bullies come in all shapes and sizes. No child is immune to the effects of a bully and no child deserves to feel the isolation, shame, and embarrassment that being bullied causes.

• Bullies start young. The desire to be popular is present in children from a very young age, including kids who are just entering pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs. Little kids are often bullied by others. Pushing, refusing to share with certain children, taking a classmate's toy, and even name calling are common among this age group.
• Elementary school drama. When kids are elementary-school age, they really work to develop their own identities and to establish how these identities fit with those of their peers. As a result, some children may resort to bullying others in order to feel powerful, popular, or strong. Fighting, stealing, and name calling are all common bullying activities in schools and should not be tolerated by parents, children, or teachers.
• Tween and Teenage angst. Made popular by grunge bands in the 90s, teen angst isn't just a great topic for rock and roll-- it's a real issue that has resulted in many kids feeling the effects of bullies who utilize cruelty toward others as an outlet for their own issues. Children aged 10 to 14 are capable of inflicting horrible pain on one another, both physically and verbally. Name calling, fighting, and exclusion are common forms of early teenage bullying.

Making Bullying Stop

No parent wants his or her children to undergo the pain that bullying can cause, but unfortunately many parents have had to help their child stand up against hurtful words and even painful punches. If your child is being bullied, don't let her believe that this behavior is in any way acceptable. By working with teachers and other parents to tell their bullying stories, and by having open conversations about bullying with your children, you can help put a stop to harmful behavior.