Bullying Prevention

• Conflict is a disagreement or argument in which both sides express their views.
   

• Bullying is negative behavior directed by someone exerting power and control over another person.
   

• Bullying is done with a goal to hurt, harm, or humiliate. With bullying, there is often a power imbalance between those involved, with power defined as elevated social status, being physically larger, or as part of a group against an individual. Students who bully perceive their target as vulnerable in some way and often find satisfaction in harming them.
   

• In normal conflict, children self-monitor their behavior. They read cues to know if lines are crossed, and then modify their behavior in response. Children guided by empathy usually realize they have hurt someone and will want to stop their negative behavior. On the other hand, children intending to cause harm and whose behavior goes beyond normal conflict will continue their behavior even when they know it's hurting someone.

• Unexplainable injuries
   

• Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry
   

• Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick or faking illness

• Changes in eating habits, like suddenly skipping meals or binge eating. Kids may come home from school hungry because they did not eat lunch.
   

• Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares
   

• Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school
   

• Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations
   

• Feelings of helplessness or decreased self-esteem
   

• Self-destructive behaviors such as running away from home, harming themselves, or talking about suicide

• Get into physical or verbal fights
   

• Have friends who bully others
   

• Are increasingly aggressive
   

• Get sent to the principal’s office or to detention frequently
   

• Have unexplained extra money or new belongings
   

• Blame others for their problems
   

• Don’t accept responsibility for their actions
   

• Are competitive and worry about their reputation or popularity

Cyberbullying is bullying with the use of digital technologies. It can take place on social media, messaging platforms, gaming platforms, and mobile phones. It is repeated behavior, aimed at scaring, angering, or shaming those who are targeted. Examples include:

• spreading lies about or posting embarrassing photos or videos of someone on social media
   

• sending hurtful, abusive or threatening messages, images or videos via messaging platforms
   

• impersonating someone and sending mean messages to others on their behalf or through fake accounts.
   

• Face-to-face bullying and cyberbullying can often happen alongside each other. But cyberbullying leaves a digital footprint – a record that can prove useful and provide evidence to help stop the abuse.

• Tell an adult you trust. If the bullying is happening at school, tell a teacher, principal, administrator, or counselor. But no matter where it’s happening, tell an adult you trust. Try to involve the person being bullied in the discussion. They might be afraid to tell someone, so your encouragement could help.
   

• Talk with the person being bullied.  Ask what you can do to help. Sometimes just hanging out between classes or before and after school can help.
   

• Listen without making judgments. The person being bullied could feel sensitive about what’s going on and scared to talk about it. They may feel powerless and unable to get away from the bullying.
   

• Let them know you care. Show that you’re a friend. Invite them into your group or to do things together. Being bullied hurts a person’s confidence, but friends can make a huge difference.
   

• Bullying prevention coordinator and counselor contact information

What if my child is being bullied at school:

• When your child is being bullied, your first response is often an emotional one.  Work to build a positive relationship with the school so that a plan and timeline of action can be quickly set in place to prevent further bullying.

Teaching your child to advocate for themself:

• Speaking up for yourself is an essential skill to develop for kids of all ages. When children know that there are ways to regain, they develop the resilience needed to navigate the obstacles life presents. We encourage you to work with your school's counselor and teacher to help your child develop this critical skill.

What should parents do when a team culture of teasing leads to bullying:

• Teasing is often confused with bullying.  The way to determine if actions or words have progressed beyond teasing is to ask if the behavior is no longer funny to all those involved. When a child is on a team or in a classroom that views bullying as teasing or suggests that it is just kids being kids, parents should first encourage and support their child and then reach out to the child's counselor or teacher.