When it's time of the year to go back to school, many kids dread ending the freedom and summertime activities. While these feelings are common for most kids, some don't look forward to going back to school because they are teased and harassed by bullies. Stop Bullying Now explains that kids are bullied daily. Bullying can range from teasing and saying a few mean words to hurting someone with physical force. Bullying is a serious problem among school children and shouldn't be tolerated in any form.
Features
Kids deal with diversity and ridicule everyday at school and with their peers. In some cases, it has to do with fitting in with a particular group of kids. Signs of bullying include physically hurting someone by shoving, tripping, hitting or punching them. Bullying doesn't always have to be physical. It can include teasing someone, verbally calling her names, spreading rumors about her that are not true or getting others to gang up on or seclude her from a group of friends or activity. Bullying occasionally happens in isolated events, but it is generally an ongoing issue, in which the bully targets the same child or children continually, explains Stop Bullying Now.
Types
Most bullying happens in real life. A child or group of children often strike against one or more other children and try to control the situation. Bullying is often done in person where the bully can physically gain up on his victim. Another type of bullying occurs online, called cyber bullying. This occurs by sending messages, photos or information through computers, cell phones and electronic media to taunt or manipulate the victim, explains Think Quest. Slandering someone's name indirectly can also affect them negatively and is a form of bullying.
Causes
By Parents for Parents explains that there are several reasons why a child bully strikes. A bully often has an aggressive or dominant personality. Bullies learn from others how to be bullies. A times, bullies have parents who were once or still are adult bullies. Their parents may also be submissive or not enforce discipline, which can cause the child to defy authority and not respect others. Bullies often target other children who are weak or they feel they can easily dominate.
Effects
The outcome of a child being bullied can be devastating to both the child and her parents. Mental Help states that bullying is a type of abuse and can negatively affect a child's mental well-being. Short-term effects may include doing poor in school, lack of school attendance, anger, depression and anxiety. Long-term, ongoing bullying can cause damaging self-esteem, avoidance of social situations, isolation, and in severe cases, suicidal thoughts.
Solution
The only way to combat bullying in children is to educate them on identifying a bully and how to respond in the right way. The biggest problem is not speaking out, says the Psychological Harassment Information Association. Many children feel like they should keep the bullying to themselves rather than tell an adult about the problem. If a bully continues to feel he can get away with hurting and manipulating another child, the cycle will never be broken. Check in with your kids and be sure that they are safe at school. Speak to others in the school if you suspect a problem.
Or, if you are being bullied yourself, break the fear and make sure your voice is heard by an adult or person in a supervisory position.
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