Each day, 10-year-old Seth asked his mom for more and more lunch
money. Yet he seemed skinnier than ever and came home from school
hungry. It turned out that Seth was handing his lunch money to a
fifth-grader, who was threatening to beat him up if he didn't pay.
Kayla, 13, thought things were going well at her new school, since
all the popular girls were being so nice to her. But then she found out
that one of them had posted mean rumors about her on a website. Kayla
cried herself to sleep that night and started going to the nurse's
office complaining of a stomachache to avoid the girls in study hall.
Unfortunately, the kind of bullying that Seth and Kayla experienced
is widespread. In national surveys, most kids and teens say that
bullying happens at school.
A bully can turn something like going to the bus stop or recess into a
nightmare for kids. Bullying can leave deep emotional scars that last
for life. And in extreme situations, it can culminate in violent
threats, property damage, or someone getting seriously hurt.
If your child is being bullied, there are ways to help him or her cope with it on a day-to-day basis and
lessen its lasting impact. And even if bullying isn't an issue right in
your house right now, it's important to discuss it so your kids will be
prepared if it does happen.
What Is Bullying?
Most kids have been teased by a sibling or a friend at some point.
And it's not usually harmful when done in a playful, friendly, and
mutual way, and both kids find it funny. But when teasing becomes
hurtful, unkind, and constant, it crosses the line into bullying and
needs to stop.
Bullying is intentional tormenting in physical, verbal, or
psychological ways. It can range from hitting, shoving, name-calling,
threats, and mocking to extorting money and treasured possessions. Some
kids bully by shunning others and spreading rumors about them. Others
use email, chat rooms, instant messages, social networking websites, and
text messages to taunt others or hurt their feelings.
It's important to take bullying seriously and not just brush it off
as something that kids have to "tough out." The effects can be serious
and affect kids' sense of self-worth and future relationships. In severe
cases, bullying has contributed to tragedies, such as school shootings.
Learn more about Bullying.