Together, We Can Stop Bullying

When families, schools and communities work together, it’s possible to stop bullying. But first, we must understand it.

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that includes an imbalance of power. That is, the child who bullies uses some form of power to control or harm the child they are bullying. And bullying is a repeated behavior — or one that has the potential to be repeated over time.

There are four types of bullying: physical, verbal, social and cyberbullying. Physical bullying includes attacking someone (hitting, shoving, poking) or using body motions or facial expressions (clenching fists, pointing, glaring) to suggest an attack may happen. Verbal bullying includes threatening, taunting, teasing and name-calling. Social bullying often involves purposely excluding someone from a group and encouraging others to do so. It includes gossip, humiliation and rumor-spreading.

Cyberbullying happens over digital devices like phones, computers and gaming consoles. It can occur through calls, texts, emails, personal messaging, chats, games and social media. It includes sending, posting or sharing any sort of negative content about someone else that embarrasses or humiliates them.

It’s important to understand the roles kids play in bullying. In addition to those who bully and those who are bullied, other children witness the behavior. Some kids assist the child doing the bullying. Others reinforce the bullying behavior by being a lively, loud audience. Some, known as outsiders, observe passively and appear neutral. And some kids actively defend the child being bullied and try to help them get out of the situation.

Bullying is upsetting and potentially harmful for all involved. It can cause serious, long-lasting problems for both those who are bullied and those who do the bullying.

It’s essential to talk regularly with your child about bullying. Ask open-ended questions about what they’ve seen or experienced themselves. Role-play scenarios so your child can practice how to prevent and safely stand up to bullying.

Parents and caregivers can be powerful anti-bullying role models. We can defend and assist those who need help, especially those who cannot fully help themselves. Simply by speaking out and acting in a kind and compassionate way, we can be sure our children see us building up others whenever possible. And grownups and kids alike can become activists in our schools and communities. Together, we can put an end to bullying.

Learn more about bullying.