Bullying

Bullying is abusing.

It consists on the repeated

acts against one person or

group. It is a common

situation, more than people

might think.

It involves attempting to create or enforce one

person’s power over another person. It can be

Physical. Pushing, kicking, hitting, pinching and other forms

of violence or threats.

Verbal. Name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumors, persistent

teasing.

Emotional. Excluding (sending to Coventry), tormenting,

ridicule, humiliation.

By Silvia Sowa

It can be the mix of all of them.

It usually happens at schools.

It includes not only the offender, but

even the witnesses and non active

participants.

Who? Why?

Kidscape.com describes that children

who bully may seem to focus on one

presumed characteristic of a child.

However, do remember that a child’s

alleged “difference” is not really the

point of the bullying—bullies are

playing with power any way they

can. Children who are bright are

often bullied, as are children with

learning differences; tall children are bullied, as are small ones.

Anything goes, but in our experience, bullying is often:

Racist. Racial taunts, graffiti, gestures.

Sexual. Unwanted physical contact or abusive comments.

Homophobic. Any hostile or offensive action against

lesbians, gay males or bisexuals or those perceived to be

lesbian, gay or bisexual.

Abuse of the vulnerable. For example, children with physical

disabilities, on the autism spectrum, or with special

educational needs. We also see bullying in children who

are careers, children who have suffered a death in the

family.

Signs… Low self esteem

Depression

Isolation

Poor academic achievement

Change of mood

Be frightened all the time

Become anxious, distressed

Stop eating

Cry, have nightmares, sleep more than

normal

Come regularly with clothes destroyed

Be unwilling to go to school

Begin truanting

Have possessions missing

Fill ill in the morning

What to do? Listen to your child, teenager, friend….take it

seriously

Ask him/her directly

Be aware of signs

Keep a diary of incidents

Talk with teachers, directors

Get together with other parents to organize

ways to stop bullying

Help your child make friends

Ask for help to organizations, take courses, get

informed

The important thing here is

to stop bullying!!!