Concerned about bullying?  We should be. Here are a few of the reasons why:

• Bullying has been identified as a major concern by schools across the U.S. (NEA, 2003).
• Approximately 20 percent of students are scared throughout much of the school day (Garrity, et al., 1997).
• 160,000 students miss school every day due to fear of attack or intimidation by a bully (Fried & Fried, 1996).
• 7 percent of eighth-graders stay home at least once a month because of bullies (Banks, 2000). 

 

If you were the target of bullying as a child, think back to how it made you feel. I'll bet that you can still see the faces and hear the taunts of the kid(s) doing the bullying. Most people can, regardless of how old or how successful they are.

When we first had a family, most of us never dreamed that our children would be faced with such cruelty at the hands of their peers and fellow students.

As parents, there's a lot that we can do to take a stand against bullying.  

Children frequently do not tell their parents or adults at school that they are being bullied because they are embarrassed, ashamed, frightened of the children who are bullying them, or afraid of being seen as a "tattler" or a "snitch".

If your concerned your child is being bullied, you may be right. It's important that parents stay vigilant to possible signs of bullying. Learn about the warning signs that may indicate that your child is being bullied.

If your child talks to you about being bullied, it's taken a lot of courage for them to do so. Your child needs your help to stop the bullying.  

When we learn that our child is the target of bullying, often our initial response is the desire to take control of the situation and tell the kids parent or say something to the kid ourselves. Bullies also seem to be tuned in to their victims "buttons" and they know how to push those buttons in any situation. They look for the most vulnerable and attack at the most opportune times. It's important that you know how best to handle the situation before addressing it. Educate yourself before you act.