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Bullying
Tatiana Solovieva
GPH 240
Professor Hold
06.01.10

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Bullying
Bullying is acting in ways that scare or harm another person. Kids who bully usually
pick on someone who is weaker or more alone, and they repeat the actions over and over.
Bulling can take many forms, including:
- Physical harm, such as hitting, shoving, or tripping.
- Emotional harm, such as making fun of the way a child acts looks or talks differently.
Girls who bully are more likely to do so in emotional ways. Boys who bully often do so
in both physical and emotional ways. For example: A girl may form a group and exclude
another girl or gossip about her. A boy may shove another boy and call him names.
Both boys and girls take part in “cyber-bullying”. This means using high-tech devices to
spread rumors or to send hurtful messages or pictures. Emotional bullying does not leave
bruises, but the damage is just as real.
Bullying is a serious problem for all children involved. Children who bully are often
physically strong. They may bully because they like the feeling of power. They may be
kids who do things without thinking first and may not follow rules. These boys and girls
have not learned to think about the feelings of other people. Kids who physically bully
others sometimes come from homes where adults fight or hurt each other. They may pick
on other kids because they have been bullied themselves.
Many bullies think highly of themselves. They like being looked up to. They often
expect everyone to behave according to their wishes. Children who bully are often not
taught to think about how their actions make other people feel. Children who bully are at
risk for school failure and dropout and for committing criminal acts later in life. They
also use drugs more than children who do not bully.( www.webmb.com/bullying)
Children who are bullied are often quiet, shy and sensitive. They may appearance unusual
(visible scare, limp) or are unsuccessful in their studies, or dressed differently. They may
have few friends and find it hard to stand up for them. They may begin to think that they
deserve the abuse. Also, children who are bullied are not to blame for attacks against
them. Boys are more likely than girls to be bullied in both physical and psychological
ways. In some cases, a child who is bullied sometimes ends up bullying others. These
children often respond to being bullied by feeling anxious and aggressive. Without

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knowing how to handle these feelings, they target other children who they think will not
fight back.
In extreme situations, children who are bullied may commit suicide or lash out violently
against those who bullied them. Children who are embarrassed about being bullied may
not want to tell their parents or other adults about it. They can be poor sleep, unexplained
bruises, frequent crying, and making up excuses not to go to school. Elementary school
children who are bullied often say they have a sore throat or a cold, feel sick in the
stomach, or do not like eating.
Some children both others are bullied themselves. They may have been bullied and then
lash out at others. Children who are both bullies and victims use alcohol or carry a
weapon more than children not affected by bullying.
As with many issues related to growing up, openly talking about bullying before it
happens is most helpful for children. Teach children how to recognize and react to
bullying, regardless of who is the victim. For example:
- Try to stay away from those who seem to not like them.
- Play or take breaks near adults while at school.
- Walk to school with older brothers and sisters or friends.
- Sit near the bus driver.
Also, talk about and model empathy, which is being sensitive to and understanding how
other people feel. This can help prevent your child from becoming involved in bullying
other.
Children on both sides of bullying incidents need help. Adults must first recognize that
bullying should not be ignored. This includes the form of bullying that makes others feel
excluded and shunned. No bullying behavior should be considered a normal part of
growing up. Bullying is abusive behavior that has a negative impact on other children.
Bullying is also an early sign of more violent or cruel behavior later in life.
One study showed that 60% of boys who were identified as bullies in grades six through
nine had at least one criminal conviction by age 24 years, between 35 and 40% of these
children had three or more criminal convictions by that same age.
(www.keepkidshealthy.com)

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The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends that patents
of children who bully seek help from their child’s teacher, principal, school counselor,
pediatrician or family doctor. These professionals can help evaluate child’s behavior
make a referral to a child and adolescent psychiatrist a psychologist, or a licensed
counselor who can work with child.
There are many ways to help child deal with bullying.(www.wedmd.com/parenting)
- Talk about the situation. A good place to start these discussions is in the car or
other place where you have little eye-to-eye contact. Listen calmly and
thoughtfully.
- Practice role-playing at home. Encourage child to react calmly and confidently to
taunting. Help child understand that responding with physical aggression or
insults. For example, have the child practice saying “Leave me alone” and then
walking away.
- Teach the child behaviors that show confidence rather than shyness and
vulnerability. Children can learn to look people in the eye and speak up when they
talk. Assure child that confident behavior can be learned. Help build child’s self-
esteem by suggesting that he or she meet others through different activities.
Having friends and interests can boots a child’s confidence and make him or her
less likely to be bullied
- Encourage the child to think about the qualities that make a good friend.
- Suggest the child join activities that are supervised by an adult. Bullying is less
likely to occur near adults.
Schools play a critical role in stopping bullying because most aggression happens on
school grounds during recess, in lunch room, or in bathrooms. Schools should have and
enforce zero-tolerance programs that make it clear that bullying won’t be tolerated.
School based programs can help reduce bullying when they :( www.webmd.com/
bullying)
- Raise awareness of bullying through school assemblies and classroom discussion
of the problem. These conversations should include teaching healthy ways to
control anger. They should also teach the value of cooperation, positive
communication skills, and friendship.
- Have peers help settle an incident and talk with all students involved.

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- Increase parents` and teachers` involvement.
- Increase supervision of children on school grounds, especially when they are out
of the classroom.
- Form clear rules about behavior that will not be tolerated.
- Provide support and protection for children who are bullied.
In the classroom, teachers should make it clear that bullying will not be tolerated.
Teachers must be prepared to follow through with consequences if bullying occurs.
Doing so sends the message that adults are serious about the problem. It also encourages
children who are not involved in bullying to report any incidents they see.
Conferences can be held-separately or together-with the parents of both children involved
in bullying incidents.
For example, Last year my daughter was bullied by a child older then her. This boy
would say bad words, make fun of her, and take away her things. I called the school and
complained about had happened. He got suspended from the school bus. After that his
behavior was much better.
Bullying behavior is a “red flag” that a child has not learned to control his or her
aggression. A child who bullies needs counseling to learn healthy ways to interact with
people. Professional counseling can guide a child through discovering why bullying is
hurtful. Through this process, a counselor can encourage a child to develop empathy,
which is being sensitive to and understanding the feelings of others. In some cases,
follow-up counseling may involve the parent. Family counseling has been shown to help
reduce anger and improve interpersonal relationships in boys with bullying behavior.
I chose this topic because children are very precious and it is important not only to keep
them from early psychological and physical traumas but also to understand them. Anyone
who has children understands that being either on the bullied or bullying side has very
significant consequences for the future.

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Research:
Bullying- what children should do if they are bullied
www.webmd.com/parenting/tc/bullying
“Helping Kids Deal with Bullies”
http:/kidshealth,org/parent/emotions/behavior/bullies.html