Bullying- is a form of aggressive behavior in which someone intentionally and repeatedly causes another

person injury or discomfort. Bullying can take the form of physical contact, words or more subtle actions.
Bullying at school is an age-old problem and until recently, many took the “children will be chil-
dren” attitude toward the problem. However, school violence cases- including the columbine school
shooting tragedy – highlight the serious and sometimes deadly consequences of bullying behaviour.
Bullies tend to exhibit the following characteristics:
 They have a strong need to dominate and subdue other students and to get their own way
 Are impulsive and are easily angered
 Are often defiant and aggressive toward adults, including parents and teachers
 Show little empathy toward students who are victimized
 If they are boys, they are physical stronger than boys in general
Thee typical passive or submissive victims, generally have some of the following characteristics:
 Are cautious, sensitive, quite, withdrawn and shy
 Are often anxious, insecure, unhappy and have low self-esteem
 Are depressed and engage in suicidal ideation much more often than their peers
 Often do not have a single good friend and relate better to adults than to peers
 If they are boys, they may be physical weaker than their peers

Bullying is defined as mean, hurtful behaviour that occurs repeatedly in a relationship with an imbalance
of power or strength. It takes many forms—verbal, physical, relational and cyberbullying. Although
schools are doing more to deal with bullying, parents are still the key to empowering kids to prevent and
stop it. Here are tips on how to deal with the four common types of bullying.

Verbal bullying
What is it:
Verbal bullying or bullying with cruel spoken words, involves ongoing name-calling, threatening and
making dis respectful comments about someone’s attributes (appearance religion, ethnicity, disability,
sexual orientation, etc)
How to spot the signs:
Children may withdraw, become moody, or show change in appetite. They may tell you something hurt-
ful that someone said about them and ask if it’s true.
What to do:
Teach your kids about respect. Through your own behaviour, reinforce how everyone deserves to be
treated well—thank teachers, praise friends, be kind to store employees. Stress self-respect, and help
your kids to appreciate their strength. “the best protection parent can offer is to foster their child’s con-
fidence and independence and to be willing to take actions when needed,” Discuss and practice safe,
constructive ways your child can respond to a bully.

Physical bullying:
What is it:
Physical bullying or bullying with aggressive physical intimidation, involves repeated, hitting, kicking,
tripping, blocking, pushing, and touching in unwanted and inappropriate ways. Example: a child gets his
pants pulled down on the playground at lunchtime.
How to spot the signs:
Many children don’t tell their parents when it happens, so watch for possible warning signs like unex-
plained cuts, scratches or bruises, missing or damaged clothes, or frequent complaints of headaches and
stomachaches.
What to do:
If you suspect your child is being physically bullied, start a casual conversation – ask what’s going on at
school, during lunch or recess, or on the way home. Based on the responses, ask if anyone’s been mean
to her. Try to keep your emotions in check. Emphasize the value of open, ongoing communication with
you and with teachers or school counsellors. Document the dates and times of bullying incidents, the
responses from people involved, and the actions that have been taken. Do not contact the parents of the
bully (or bullies) to resolve matters on your own. If your child continues to be physically hurt, and you
need additional assistance beyond the schools, contact local law enforcement. There are local, state and
federal anti-bullying and harassment laws that require prompt corrective actions.

Relational bullying
what is it:
Relational bullying, or bullying with exclusionary tactics, involves deliberately preventing someone from
joining or being part of a group, whether it’s at lunch table, game, sport, or social activity.
Example:
A group of girls in dance class keeps talking about a weekend sleepover and sharing pictures, treating
the one uninvited child as if she were invisible.
How to spot the signs: watch for mood changes, withdrawal from peer groups, and a shift toward being
alone more than usual. Girls are more likely than boys to experience social exclusion, nonverbal, or
emotional intimidation. The pain can be as strong as physical bullying and last even longer.
What to do:
Make it a night routine to talk with your kids about how their day went, Help them find things that make
them happy, point out their positive qualities, and make sure they know there are people who love and
care about them. Focus on developing their talents and interest in music, arts, athletics, reading, and after-
school activities so your kids build relation ship outside school.

Cyberbullying
What is it:
Cyberbullying, or bullying in cyberspace, involves haranguing in cyberspace, involves haranguing
someone by spreading mean words, lies, and false rumors trough e-mails, text messages, and social media
posts. Sexist, racist, and homophobic messages create a hostlile atmosphere, even when not directly tar-
geting your child.
Example:
When someone tweets or post, “ay ang taba naman niya, or abnormal ito, sana mawala na sila’
How to Spot the Signs:
Watch to see if your child spends more time online (visiting social media pages or texting) but appears
to be sad and anxious afterwards. Even though she’s reading painful things on her computer, tablet, or
phone, this may be her only social outlet. Also take note if she has trouble sleeping, begs to stay home
from school, or withdraws from activities she once loved.
What to do:
Mean messages can be distributed anonymously and quickly, so first establish household rules for inter-
net safety. Agree on age-appropriate time limits. Know the popular and potentially abusive sites, apps,
and digital devices before your kids use them. Let your know you will be monitoring their online activi-
ties. Tell them that if they experience cyberbullying, they shouldn’t engage, respond or forward. Instead,
they should inform you so you can print out the offending message, including the dates and times of
when they were received. Report cyberbullying to the school and to the online service provider. If the
cyberbullying escalates to include threats and sexually explicit messages, also contact local law enforce-
ment.