Bullying is a word that's wrapped in emotion. For many people bullying is associated with bad childhood memories. It has been estimated that around 40% of people have experienced some type of bullying in the past.
Bullying is an insidious behaviour that transgresses children's natural right to feel safe and secure. It can adversely affect their learning, emotional well-being, further peer relations and their sense of self.
Bullying takes many forms and guises including physical and emotional abuse, intimidation, harassment and exclusion.
It now has a well publicised cyber-dimension which has moved the goalposts for many kids. In the past children could escape bullying behaviours they may have experienced by being at home. Cyber-bullying now means that kids can't escape the bully like they once could.
Bullying is not the domain of one gender. Girls bully just as much as boys but they do it in less physical ways. While boys use physical intimidation or verbal abuse to wield power, girls are more likely to use exclusion or verbal sarcasm to assert themselves.
Bullying should not be confused with teasing, rejection, random acts of violence or physicality and conflict. While children will often tease or fight, this bickering should not be confused with bullying.
Bullying is about lack of power as one person is powerless to stop the teasing or physical abuse. Bullying is the selective, uninvited, repetitive oppression of one person by another person or group.
If you think your child is being bullied then handle with care as children often don't want to admit that they are on the receiving end of bullying.
Some kids keep it close to their chests so it helps to be on the lookout for warning signs such as; items being stolen, changing the route to school and withdrawal from usual activities.
By Michael Grose - Parenting Ideas. For more information on bullying see www.parentingideas.com.au
Please download Crescent Head Public School's Anti-Bullying Plan: