Types of Bullying:

• Verbal Bullying is saying or writing mean things. Verbal bullying includes: Teasing, Name-calling, Inappropriate sexual comments, taunting, threatening to cause harm.
• Social Bullying sometimes referred to as relational bullying, involves hurting someone's reputation or relationships. Social bullying includes: Leaving someone out on purpose, telling other children not to be friends with someone, spreading rumors about someone, embarrassing someone in publlc.
• Physical Bullying involves hurting a person's body or possessions. Physical Bullying inlcudes: hitting/kicking/pinching, spitting, tripping/pushing, taking or breaking someone's things, making mean or rude hand gestures.

Keeping bullying behavior in check!     

Verbal: Hurtful name-calling, teasing, gossiping, making threats,making rude noises, or spreading hurtful rumors.

Nonverbal: Posturing, making gang signs, leering, staring, stalking, destroying property, exhibiting inappropriate and/or threatening gestures or actions.

Physical: Hitting, punching, pushing, shoving, poking, kicking, etc.

Emotional: Rejecting, terrorizing, extorting, defaming, intimidating, humiliating, blackmailing, manipulating friendships, or using peer pressure.

Cyber bullying: using digital technologies to harass or intimidate a person. These include, but are not limited to, e-mail, blogs, texting on cell phones, social websites, chat rooms, “sexting”, or instant messaging.

How the help your child deal with bullies:                

• Try not to show fear, anger or cry
• Not to fight back and walk away
• Avoid places and situation where bullying may occur

Report any problem immediately to any school personnel!

Overall, support your child and avoid confronting the child or the family of the child that bullies.

What if your child is being the bully?

• Be open-minded; listen to what your child’s teacher or administrator’s say. Don’t allow or encourage excuses or behavior. Develop clear and consistent rules.
• Tell your child you will not tolerate his/her behavior.
• Investigate why your child is bullying others:
• Is there an underlying problem?
• Does your child feel insecure?

If you or your child needs support, please see your school counselor.

Cyber Bullying

Bullying is nothing new. What is new is that cyberspace creates a 24 hrs-a-day, 7 days-a-week opportunity to harass! Instant messaging, Web Journals, cell phones and e-mail allow the bully to victimize anonymously. Many parents are oblivious to their children's online world and the pain they may be suffering.

What is cyber bullying? threatening emails nasty instant messaging sessions repeated text messages to a cell phone websites that mock others texting or emailing using another's identity What can parents do? Keep computers in a common room Understand and monitor your child's internet use Discuss "netiquette" and online safety with your child Is your child upset after going online? Ask questions! Investigate parental-controls software Reminders for student online users: Never give out passwords or PINs to friends Don't send messages when you are angry Never say something in an e-mail that you wouldn't say to somebody's face Don't believe everything you see or read Online conversation are not private. Be careful! Strategies for targets of cyber bullying: Do not open, forward, read, or respond to messages from cyber bullies Save all messages as evidence Tell a trusted adult about the problem If you are threatened with harm, call the police