Bullying and Harassment at School What Can Parents

Bullying and Harassment at School What Can Parent’s Do? Coffee with the Counselors-January Ms. Meyer, Ms. Giusti and Mr. Williams

What is Bullying? v Spreading nasty rumors about a person v Name-calling v Putting people down v Excluding someone from a group v Making threats v Physical assaults v Unwanted sexual comments, gestures or contact.

Types of Aggression v Physical v Verbal v Relational

Who are the Bullies? Bullies are individuals who need to show that they are stronger and more powerful than others. Bullying is a way for them to get this need met. Bullies tend to be less empathetic toward others; they have less concern for other people’s points of view. Bullies can be male or female. Bullying behavior peaks in middle school years. In high school, it may take the form of sexual harassment. Could be a person who IS also bullied… taking it out on others, experiencing precipitating factors in their environment.

Effects of Bullying Kids and teens are hesitant to talk about being bullied. Parents should watch for sudden changes in your child’s behavior. v Withdrawal v Depression v Negative Self-Talk v Staying away from friends v Crying Episodes v Frequent complaints of headaches and/or stomach aches v Unexplained bruises

Long-Term Effects of Bullying v Bullies create a constant fear in their victims. v Some kids lose all self-esteem, suffer from severe depression and turn to drug and alcohol use. Some kids are so tormented that they use suicide as an alternative. 
Kids and teens look to their parents for protection and advice. v Many think bullying will toughen kids up or that it’s a right of passage. It used to be like that. Not anymore! Our kids are subjected to more than we ever were. It’s a different world today!
 v We cannot allow our children to hurt from these senseless acts of empowerment from other kids who have learned this behavior. 

And remember – what is learned can be unlearned. (www. stompoutbullying. org)

What can Parents Do? v LISTEN! v Find out exactly what behavior your child has experienced v Encourage your child to walk away rather than fight with a bully. v Encourage your child to avoid the bully and stay with a group of friends. v Tell your child to report any incidents in which other students are being harassed. v The most important message to give your children is to believe in themselves.

Don’t Be a BYSTANDER What’s a bystander? Bystanders are kids and teens who witness bullying and cyber-bullying in action, who stand by and watch, who videotape it and make it viral. . . and WHO DO AND SAY NOTHING.

STAND UP! Whether you know the victim or not, there are things that you as a bystander can safely do to support the victim: If you are NOT part of the solution, you ARE part of the problem! v Don't laugh v Don't encourage the bully in any way v Stay at a safe distance and help the target away v Don’t become an "audience" for the bully v Reach out in friendship

STAND UP v Help the victim in any way you can v Support the victim in private v If you notice someone being isolated from others, invite them to join you v Include the victim in some of your activities v Tell an adult v There is strength in numbers. Every school and every community has more caring kids than bullies.

Did you know… v According to the National Association of School Psychologists, about 15% of youth are either bullies or victims. v It is estimated that 160, 000 children in the United States skip school each day due to their fear of bullies. v This is not just a problem in the US-serious concerns about bullying have been reported in Japan, Australia, England, and other countries (www. crisisprevention. com)

What do you think? v Questions v Concerns v Ideas… IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A TOPIC PLEASE LET US KNOW! Contact Mrs. Giusti or Ms. Meyer! ggiusti@valdezcityschools. org Kmeyer@valdezcityschools. org

Resource Stomp Out Bullying-Parent’s Page- http: //www. stompoutbullying. org/index. php/informationand-resources/parents-page/ Crisis Prevention Institute www. crisisprevention. com