Bullying Facts
- Many students miss school because of fear (Olweus).
- Boys are more likely to bully others.
- Girls and boys bully differently (boys—physical; girls—social).
- 19% of students in grades 6-9 reported bullying others “sometimes” or more often during the school term (Nansel, 2001).
- 23% reported being bullied “several times” or more frequently (Melton, 1998).
- Older students and boys are less likely than younger students and girls to report victimization.
- Most bullying is verbal rather than physical (Mullin-Rindler 2001).
- 60% of bullies in grades 6-9 had a criminal conviction by age 24.
- Victims fear retaliation, so very often they do not report acts of bullying.
If Your Child is Being Bullied
- Don’t panic. Listen before you react.
- Avoid blaming your child.
- Don’t tell your child to fight back; instead, teach them to be assertive and use words to stand up for themselves.
- Help kids learn strategies to avoid encounters with bullies (safety in numbers).
- Instruct your child to walk away and get adult help.
- Tell the school immediately and keep a written record of what happened.
If Your Child Bullies Others
- Take the problem seriously.
- Supervise your child’s activities/computer use more closely.
- Don’t tolerate behavior that hurts others and respond swiftly and consistently by restricting time with others.
- Help your child make amends.
- Be a good role model—avoid using bullying behaviors at home.
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