The Schoolyard Bully

By: Kate Ellingson

Updated: Thu 12:26 PM, Apr 29, 2004

There are three main types of bullying; verbal, physical and emotional. Verbal bullying is name-calling and put downs. Physical bullying can be hitting, kicking and shoving. Emotional bullying can be gossiping, threatening, starting rumors and leaving others out.

Anyone can be a bully. It can hurt for years after it happens so this is why it's so important to take care of the problem early on in a child's life.

If you think your child is being bullied, you can do several things:

1) Watch for changes in your child's behavior
-fear of going to school, dislike school, missing personal belongings
2) Listen actively to your child
-so your child will feel comfortable with you discussing their problem
3) Help decide the next step
-child can make simple statement and walk away
-not say anything and walk away
-team up with a friend that will stand up for them
4) Keep strong communication with teachers

If you think your child is bullying others:

1) Make it clear bullying will not be tolerated
-outline consequences
-tell child you respect the school's right to punishment
2) Have child walk in victim's shoes
-how would child feel if it happened to them
3) Help your child feel successful
-emphasize child's good points
-help them experience positive feedback, rather than negative attention
-doing good increases child's sense of self-worth

If your child sees someone else getting bullied:

1) Tell the bully to stop
2) Be a friend to the victim, strength is in numbers
3) Invite the victim to be part of a group
4) Stand up for victim
5) Go to teacher who will listen
6) Don't laugh at bully's behavior and don't give them attention

Information gathered from several resources:
SPELLING IT OUT info@respect2all.org
Nebraska Cooperative Extension
National Association of School Psychologists

Web sites to get more information:

www.respect2all.org
www.bullying.org
ianr.unl.edu/pubs/family/nf309.htm
nea.org/schoolsafety/bullying.html

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