What is Bullying?

Bullying can take on many forms and can be very damaging to children both
physically and emotionally. Bullying is the desire of one child to hurt,
threaten, intimidate, or embarrass another child. Bullying can be more that
just name calling and has even moved onto computers and cell phones. Bullying
can be physical, emotional, written, verbal, and even sexual. Knowing the
different ways children can bully each other will help to identify and stop
bullying.

Physical bullying is when one child physically injures another child on purpose
and with the intention of harassing, scaring, or embarrassing them. Hitting,
kicking, and pushing as well as threats of physical violence are all ways that
children engage in physical bullying. Sometimes a child will demand money of
other belongings as a from of bullying. Boys more commonly use this type of
bullying because they are usually more aggressive than girls. Physical bullying
can have grave effects on victims if it is not stopped soon enough.

Verbal bullying is another common form of bullying and girls are more prone to
engage in this kind of bullying. Verbal bullying occurs when children call
others names, spread rumors or criticize each other relentlessly. Even though
verbal bullying does not do any physical harm, it can still traumatize children
and cause them to loose self esteem, become depressed, and loose interest in
friends and activities. These effects can do a lot of damage to a child, and
even affect them in the long term.

Written bullying takes the form of abusive letters both on paper and in emails
and text messages. Passing mean notes and pictures used to be the only form of
written bullying but today, because the internet makes spreading information so
easy, written bullying has become easier than ever. Children will write
derogatory things about their victim online for the whole world to see. They
will also use chat rooms and IM's to spread rumors and make nasty comments
either to other children or the victims themselves.

Emotional bullying is another form of bullying and is also more common among
girls. Emotional bullying includes excluding others from a group, victimizing
others and ridiculing them. Any comments or actions that are meant to hurt
another person's feelings are considered emotional bullying. This type of
bullying is just as serious as any other because victims eventually become
damaged emotionally. Victims of emotional bullying often blame themselves for
the bullying and suffer life long effects.

Sexual bullying occurs more often in older children and includes unwelcome
sexual comments, advances, and the display of sexual material. Sexual bullying
is a very serious issue and can be considered sexual harassment. Children who
commit this type of bullying can face serious consequences, and even be held
legally responsible.

Bullying can happen to anyone and even popular, seemingly well adjusted
children can bully others. Every type of bullying is serious, and should be
dealt with accordingly. Understanding the different types of bullying can go a
long way in preventing bullying and stopping it if it does happen.

The Effects of Bullying

Bullying negatively affects both the child being victimized and the child who
is the bully. There are always short-term affects and if the bullying is severe
enough there can also be long term effects. Children who are bullied can suffer
from low self esteem and other emotional problems and children who do the
bullying are much more likely to have problems with drugs and alcohol later in
life. Bullying should not be taken lightly as it can cause serious problems for
all the children involved.

Being bullied is a very stressful ordeal for children. Many bullying victims
are reluctant to talk about their experiences making it even harder to help
them. While it is possible for children to learn to ignore and not be bothered
by bullying, they are usually stressed out when bullying attacks occur. The
victims of bullies often loose self esteem, start having trouble in school, and
withdraw from friends and activities. If it is not stopped and continues for
long enough, children can suffer these problems permanently.

Bullying victims can suffer from long-term effects of bullying if it was severe
enough. Bullying victims are more likely to have social and depression issues
later in life. Children who were constantly bullied may have a hard time
forming friendships and fitting in with others throughout their lives. Most
bullying victims suffer no long-term effects of bullying but it can happen if
nothing is done to stop the bullying early on.

Bullies usually have their own problems that cause them to pick on others and
if they are allowed to continue bullying these problems may never be resolved.
Bullies often have friends but these relationships are destructive and only
help to perpetuate bullying. The effects of bullying on bullies are usually
frequent trouble in school and at home. Bullies can also suffer long term
problems if they are allowed to continue bullying others.

Bullies who are not stopped early can suffer from long term effects. A bully
who is never taught appropriate ways to deal with their problems will most
likely continue being aggressive and bullying others into their adult life.
Bullies are also more likely to commit crimes and be involved in illegal
activity when they get older. Bullies will often have a hard time making
friends and maintain friendships as the friends who support bullying are not
quality relationships to be in. Bullies may never learn how to effectively
problem solve if they are given other ways to respond when the bullying problem
first arises.

While most cases of bullying do not result in any long-term effects, the
painful memories of bullying can cause victims problems in the future. For
bullies, the inability to cope with problems in a healthy way may lead to
serious trouble in the future. Because the possibility exists for these types
of problems, bullying must be taken seriously and dealt with accordingly. It is
important to stop bullying early so both the bully and the victim do not suffer
from any long term affects.

Is Your Child at Risk of Being Bullied?

Every child is at risk of being bullied no matter what their personality is
like. It is estimated by the U.S. Department of Education that over 10% of
children in school are at some time the target of a bully. Because bullying can
be directed to anyone, you should not assume that your child will never be a
target. Many times bullying issues will resolve themselves or grade or school
changes will separate the children involved in bullying. Sometimes, however,
bullying will remain constant and will cause serious damage, both emotionally
and physically, to the victim. Because bullying is such a serious issue,
knowing the risk factors for being bullied is important in determining if your
child is at an increased risk for being targeted by a bully.

Both boys and girls are most commonly bullied for being different, not fitting
in, or lacking social skills. If your child has a handicap, has a hard time
making friends, or fitting in with others, they have increased risk factors for
being bullied. Children with differences such as small stature, physical
defects, or cognitive difficulties are also at an increased risk factors for
being bullied. Even if your child conforms to normal standards, they may have
increased risk factors for being bullied if they are unpopular or are friends
with other children who are bullied. Sometimes bullies even target children who
are popular and confident because they are jealous so no child is safe from
bullying.

Another risk factor for being bullied is bullying others. Children who bully
others often find themselves as a target of bullying after they have victimized
others. If your child bullies others, they may become the target of retaliation
and become the victims themselves even after they stop victimizing others
because the children they hurt want revenge. Warning signs of bullying behavior
include general aggression, impulsiveness, the need to dominate, inability to
cope with problems and the inability to empathize with others. If your child
seems like the type that would bully others, they have increased risk factors
for being bullied because victims often retaliate. Make sure your child
understand that bullying is not acceptable and can have serious consequences
for the rest of their lives.

If your child has risk factors for being bullied, you should monitor their
behavior and look for warning signs of bullying. These signs include withdraw
from friends and activities, sudden fear of going to school, unexpected
complaints of illness such as stomach pains and headaches, constantly coming
home with damaged or missing belongings, and unexplained depression.

Usually bullying can be stopped and long term damages avoided, but in severe
cases, both parties can be affected for life. Be sure to teach your child what
to do if they are faced with a bully and how to stop bullying behavior so that
they will not suffer in the long term from bullying experiences. Don't assume
that your child will never be bullied, sometimes bullying occurs with no
warning signs or the victims refuse to talk about it.

What is Cyber Bullying?

With advances in technology come advances in the way kids can pick on each
other. It used to be that bullying was relegated to the school yard, but today
kids can use the internet and cell phones to bully each other in a way that has
been termed cyber bullying. This new type of bullying can be just as harmful as
traditional bullying and even have criminal ramifications.

Cyber bullying is when a child or teenager is harassed, threatened, humiliated,
or otherwise targeted for abuse using the internet, cell phone, or other digital
communication device. Cyber bullying only refers to children harassing other
children, if adults are involved in the harassment than it is not called cyber
bullying. Cyber bullying should be taken seriously because it can be so
damaging and even be illegal.

Cyber bullying may entail posting mean, lewd, or derogatory statements about a
person online, sending embarrassing photos of a person through email or text
message, or any other mean spirited act committed against another child using
that type of technology. Because the possibilities of cyber bullying are
endless, cases of cyber bullying can become very serious, even to the point of
injury of death. There have been reported cases of suicide and homicide related
to cyber bullying as well as physical and emotional damage. Never assume that
cyber bullying will stop on its own, all the attention cyber bullying can draw
is a great motivator for cyber bullies to continue.

Cyber bullying often occurs repeatedly and is usually not a one time
occurrence. Cyber bullying victims are often targeted and tormented
relentlessly and the ease of which information is shared on the internet and
through cell phones makes committing acts of cyber bullying easy. Kids can find
many different ways to embarrass, threaten, or belittle others using the
internet or a cell phone. Depending on the severity of the offense, cyber
bullying can be charged as a crime. If information or passwords were stolen or
threats were made, children can be charged as delinquents for under the law.

Do not be afraid to peruse your child's rights in the case of cyber bullying,
sometimes it is the only way to make it stop and send the message to other
children that cyber bullying is no acceptable.

Although schools try to do everything they can to stop and prevent bullying,
cyber bullying can be a tough from of bullying for a school to control. Cyber
bullying that occurs off of school property is usually considered out of the
authority of the school and little can be done by administrators to stop it.
Parents play a key role in preventing cyber bullying and closely monitoring
children's online and cell phone activity is the best way to do so. If you
notice that your child is having unexpected problems, don't assume they are a
normal part of growing up. If your child becomes hesitant to use the computer
they may be experiencing cyber bullying and you should investigate to make sure
they are not harmed.

How to Tell if Your Child is a Victim of Bullying

There are many warning signs of bullying, and if you suspect that your child
may be getting picked on at school, looking for these signs can help confirm
that your suspicion is true. Some signs are more subtle than others, but they
can all point to a case of bullying.

If you notice that your child frequently comes home with damaged belongings,
torn clothes, or is missing property, this may indicate that they are the
victim of bullying. Taking or damaging property is a way that children bully
each other as well as physically harming their victim. Likewise, if your child
frequently comes home with unexplained bruises, scrapes, and other injuries
they may be a victim of bullying.

If your child has few friends or is withdrawing from friends they once
associated with, they may be the victim of bullying. While friends do come and
go throughout school, sudden decreases in friendships may indicate that your
child is a victim of bullying. Children who are bullied often withdraw from
things they once cared about because of the stress of their situation. Less
popular children are also at an increased risk for bullying so if your child
has problems making friends they may be a target for bullying.

A sudden an unexplained fear of going to school or a sudden loss of interest in
school and activities may also indicate that your child is the victim of
bullying. Children are often hesitant to talk about bullying experiences and
instead become afraid or uninterested in things they once liked. If you find
that your child refuses to talk about school or other activities where bullying
could take place this is also a sign that your child could be the victim of
bullying. If your child is reluctant to talk about their experiences, reassure
them that no matter what is going on your are there to help and can only make
the situation better.

Another sign that your child may be the victim of bullying is mood swings,
depression, or unexplained illnesses and complaints of aches and pains.
Children who are the victims of bullying will often make up excuses why they do
not want to go to school or come home in a bad mood. Children will typically try
to avoid situations where they are being bullied using these excuses and it is a
classic indicator of a bullying problem, especially if these problems happen
unexpectedly.

If ignored, these symptoms can cause a child who is the victim of bullying to
loose self esteem and do poorly in school. While these symptoms are not always
caused by bullying, they are common signs that bullying has occurred. If your
child exhibits any of these symptoms, you should further investigate to see
what the cause of the problem is and to find ways to solve it. Children often
do not want adult help because they fear that it will only make the situation
worse. If they refuse to talk to you, consider consulting your child's teacher
to get better insight into what is going on.

Why Do Children Bully?

There are many reasons children bully others. They can have strained home
lives, not be getting enough attention at home, or have other family issues.
Children who come from abusive homes or whose parents use violence to solve
problems also may bully others. The most commonly thought of reason children
bully is because they have low self esteem or a poor self image but many times
bullies are confident and popular and pick on children who are smaller and
unpopular. Children may also bully because they witness violence at home or do
not know any other way to deal with stress. If children are not taught the
proper way to solve problems, they may resort to violence and bullying.
Bullying is a serious issue that can have serious consequences and should be
treated as such.

Other reasons children bully are to compensate for their own problems, to gain
a feeling of power, or to make themselves feel better. They turn to bullying as
a way to solve these problems because it seems like the best way. Being mean
spirited or emotionally unstable are also reason children bully because
bullying is actually enjoyable to them. Children may find happiness in the
misery of others. If children have learning problems, poor social skills, or
problems fitting in they may also bully others to make themselves feel better
about their social situation.

Sometimes the reason children bully is because they are being picked on
themselves and they will retaliate by bullying others. This is a common way
that the cycle of bullying continues and that children who would not normally
bully others start to do so. No reason merits bullying, but some children don't
know any other way to deal with their problems.

The most important thing to remember when dealing with a child that bullies is
that their motive may be different from the norm and the underlying problem
must be resolved in order to stop the bullying cycle. The reason children bully
is the key to stopping them, so if your child is a bully make sure you identify
exactly why they feel as though they should bully others. Solving the
underlying problem will give children the relief from their problems they need
without having to resort to bullying. Give your child positive ways to deal
with problems and stress so they don't have to use bullying. Children who are
stopped quickly are much less likely to suffer from long term effects of
bullying.

Stopping bullying is important not only for the victims of bullying but for the
bullies themselves. Children who bully often have problems later in life and end
up committing crimes and continuing their cycle of aggression. Stopping a bully
while they are young and making them realize the consequences of their actions
is important to prevent future trouble. No matter why a child bullies, they
should be made aware that bullying is not acceptable and given better ways to
cope with their problems. Make sure you address the problem that is causing the
bullying so that it doesn't continue.

The Wrong Way to Handle Bullying

If your child is being bullied, it can be a harrowing experience. Many children
are unsure what to do when they get bullied, and you should make sure they have
the correct information. Many children use the wrong methods to deal with
bullying, or they refuse to take action at all. Many children have the wrong
idea of what to do if they are bullied, so make sure they do not make these
mistakes.

If your child is being bullied, make sure that they do not think it is their
fault. Many children do not realize this and suffer from low self esteem and
emotional problems if they blame themselves for being bullied. Bullying is
never the fault of the victim no matter why they are being singled out for.
Make sure you child understands this so they do not suffer from guilt. They
will also be more willing to share their problems if they realize that the
other child is to blame.

Make sure you child does not bully the person back or use physical violence.
You should teach them positive ways to defend themselves and make sure they do
not take part in continuing the cycling of bullying. Children will often try to
harm their bully back, and while this may work for a little while, it will only
perpetuate the problem. Children who are bullied will often try to get revenge
in this way but it is not the best way to take action.

You should tell your child that the most important thing to do is tell an adult
about what is going on. Many children are afraid that telling someone about
being bullied will only make the bullying worse. Make sure your child knows
that telling an adult is the best way to make bullying stop. It is natural for
a child who is being bullied to be reluctant to talk about it, so make sure you
reassure them that you can only help. Children may not want to talk to their
parents or their teachers, so have them find a trusted adult they can confide
in such as a coach or clergy person.

Encourage your child to continue spending time with friends and doing the
activities they enjoy. Many children that are being bullied will withdrawal
from friends, school and activities so be sure prevent this and support your
child in their activities. Sticking with friends will make your child less of a
target and continuing in activities will help to boost their confidence, both
things that can prevent bullying.

If your child is being bullied, make sure they do not become depressed or start
bullying others. Many children will resort to picking on others or become
depressed if they are being bullied themselves. Make sure you child does not
act out in this way as it will only cause more emotional damage and is not a
healthy way to deal with problems. Many times bullying occurs because a child
has no other way to cope with their problems. Give your child support and ideas
on how to better solve problems so that they will not continue the cycle of
bullying.

Where Can Bullying Occur?

Bullying can occur in many different places, although most people think it
happens only at school and between children. Bullying can happen between adults
as well and between children in other places besides school. Knowing where
bullying can occur is a good way to help prevent it. No matter if you have a
child or are experiencing bullying yourself, you should be aware of the places
it can occur.

Bullying can occur at school, and this is the most common place. Children will
bully each other for many different reasons including insecurity and even if
they are popular. Schools usually take bullying seriously but it can be hard to
tell if children are being bullied because they are often reluctant to talk
about it. Physical bullying is common among young boys and young girls tend to
say mean things and spread rumors to bully others. Bullying in school has been
a problem for a long time and can have serious consequences of not dealt with
promptly and appropriately.

Bullying can occur in other places where children interact. The school bus and
around the neighborhood where children play are common sites of bullying.
Children will use any opportunity they can to bully others and these places
offer the greatest chances of being able to interact. Bullying can also occur
at home with siblings bullying each other. Bullies like to act out in private
so places where kids can be alone are the biggest places bullying can occur.

Children are not the only ones who bully each other. Adults can be bullies too
and bullying can occur in the workplace. Adults will treat co workers poorly in
a variety of ways to lessen their value and sabotage their work. Adults will
constantly criticize their victims even if it is unwarranted, belittle their
accomplishments, and file false grievances and accusations. Adults sometimes
bully because they perceive another person as a threat to their job and want to
make them look bad instead of improving their own work. Adults can also bully
others simply because they don't like them or because others do so.

The computer and mobile devices have opened a completely new way for bullies to
torment others. Bullying can occur online through emails, IM's, on websites, and
through phone calls and text messages. This type of bullying is called cyber
bullying and is becoming increasingly common. Adult bullying can occur in the
workplace using these methods as well as other written messages. Both children
and adults will say mean things to try to embarrass or torment their victim
online. Cyber bullying is particularly effective because bullies can reach a
huge audience.

There are many places bullying can occur and being able to identify bullying is
the best way to stop it. Just because problems are not occurring between
children or at school, does not mean what is going on is not bullying. If a
person is being unfairly targeted by another person relentlessly in the attempt
to humiliate, belittle, hurt, or otherwise harm a person, chances are that it is
bullying.

Characteristics of Adult Bully Targets

Adult bullies target their victims in many of the same way children who bully
do. While many people think that bullying only occurs amongst children, it can
also happen in the workplace among adults. No matter what the age of a bully,
they are opportunistic and tend to prey on people they perceive as a threat or
that they dislike because of differences. Adult bullies almost always bully
others continuously and when one target leaves, quickly pick another. The
following traits are common in adult bullying victims and usually make the
bully feel insecure or threatened. Adult bullying can be more of a challenge to
handle because it is harder to recognize and not as widely accepted as the
bullying that occurs with children.

Adult bullies target people who are good at their job and excel beyond them.
Bullies want to eliminate their competition and make their work seem better
than it is. While bullying is not acceptable no matter the age of the person
doing it, adults will still bully others if they see it as the only way to
solve their problems. Adult bullies target people who put them in danger of
looking bad in an attempt to sabotage their work.

Adult bullies target people who are popular and well liked as well, especially
if they are not too popular them selves. The more well liked and competent a
person is, the bigger the threat they are to an adult bully. If an adult bully
is seeking attention, they will target people who receive the most attention
and try to make them seem less valuable.

Adult bullies target people with differences from themselves, especially those
who have high morals and integrity. Adult bullies usually have problems coping
with their own problems and are desperately trying to find ways to make
themselves look better by targeting other adults who they perceive will not
fight back. Adult bullies seek out these people because they are less likely to
retaliate against them. Adult bullies target people with vulnerabilities as
well, such as inexperienced employees or older employees. If a new employee
refuses to join an established clique or act a certain way, adult bullies
target them. If new employees do not conform or have new and independent ideas,
they also may be targeted.

Adult bullies target employees who have talents, strong friendships, or who are
excelling at their jobs because of jealousy and inadequacy issues. Adult bullies
feel as though they have to victimize others because they are envious of their
talents. Even though it would be easier to just work harder at developing their
own talents, adult bullies seek to damage other people instead of working harder
themselves.

Employees who have strong relationships with others may be the target of an
adult bully because the bully feels left out and is angry that they are
excluded. Many adult bullies have had problems forming their own friendships
their entire lives.

Adult bullying is often overlooked and misunderstood in the workplace. While
bullying among children is more common, adult bullying does take place.

Types of Bullies in the Workplace

Most people think of bullying as occurring between children in school. While
this type of bullying is the most common, it is possible, however, for bullying
to occur between adults in the work place. Just like in the schoolyard, there
are many different reasons why adults bully each other and many different types
of bullies.

Sometimes an adult bully will act out because they are under stress. They may
not even intend to target others at first, but because of stress in the work
place they begin targeting others to take their stress out on. These types of
adult bully will usually realize what they are doing and stop after the stress
subsides although they may continue targeting others.

Many times, an adult bully will target a person who is in a position of
authority. Sometimes employees will target their boss, or in some cases
employees will be bullied by the people they are serving, this most commonly
occurs in nursing and in schools. Patients and students will relentlessly
target the people trying to help them for a variety of reasons, and the
professionals will have no idea how to handle it as there are strict rules of
conduct they must follow.

A true adult bully will continually bully others, even to the point of having
them fired. The bully will appear calm and confident and deny any charges made
by the victim to a boss or human resources officer. Many times the victim will
not have any proof that they are being bullied and will either resign or get
fired if their work performance is affected. Then the adult bully will move on
to another target and continue the cycle of bullying. This is the most common
way adult bullying occurs and is why it is hard to stop.

Just as with kids, sometimes bullies will only act in conjunction with others.
If someone realizes that another employee is bulling others, they may join the
bully instead of standing up for the victim because it is easier. People who
bully others will often act together as they act as support for each other.
Bullies working together can include pairs or even groups.

Often employees who have formed a friendship or are involved together will work
together to intimidate other employees for their gain. Often one adult bully
will be very subtle and the other will be more obvious making the bullying more
effective. Sometimes a larger group of employees will gang up on and single out
another employee to undermine his work or force him to quit. These groups of
bullies will usually pick a person that is different from them or that they all
dislike. They will act together to intimidate and target the employee for
ridicule.

Even though many people don't realize that there is such a thing as an adult
bully, there are many work places that have them. Dealing with an adult bully
can be challenging and co workers that are being bullied may have no choice
other than to quit.

How Common is Bullying?

Many people think that bullying is a common part of childhood, and sadly, it
is. Bullying affects close to half of students in high school and middle
school. Estimates by the National Youth Violence Prevention in 2006 say that
30% of students either are bullied on a regular basis or are bullies
themselves. About 11% of children are bullying victims while a slightly higher
percentage, 13%, are doing the bullying. 6% of children say that they have been
both the bullying victim and the bully at one time or another. This starling
evidence shows that bullying is all too common in schools and the serious
nature of bullying can damage the lives of these children.

Any child can be the victim of bullying, but some types of students are more
likely than others to be targeted. Any child that is different whether it is
race, ethnicity, religion, physical limitations or mental limitations is at a
higher risk of being bullied. Bullying is more common among boys than girls and
is more likely to be physical. It is common for bullying among girls to be
emotional and based on what children say about each other. Bullying can take
place anywhere that children interact, including on the computer and over the
phone.

Bullying is common even from children who are confident and popular. A common
misconception about bullying is that bullies are usually children with low
self-esteem and are trying to compensate for their own problems. This is not
the case and frequently bullies are confident, popular students who pick on
others for the fun of it. Bullies often act out as a way to dominate others and
to impress their friends. Bullies feel no remorse for what they do and are often
in trouble in other areas of school. Bullies who are shown proper ways to
interact with other are more likely to have serious problems later in life. It
is common for children who are bullies in school to develop problems with the
law later as adults and to get involved with drug and alcohol abuse.

Bullying victims can usually overcome the effects of bullying, especially if
the bully is stopped before they have a chance to do any permanent damage. Not
all cases of bullying have long term effects, but if not stopped in time they
can. Children who are bullied relentlessly for a long time are more likely to
be depressed and suicidal, even later in life. Bullying victims are also likely
to drop out of school or do poorly in school as a result of all the stress
placed on them by the bully. Bullying victims also tend to have low self-esteem
that may never improve.

Bullying is a common and serious problem in schools today. Parents and teacher
should closely monitor children for signs of bullying and stop any incidents
before both the bully and victim suffer long-term consequences. The serious
nature of bullying is often overlooked by good natured parents and teachers who
think it is something that will be outgrown, and while that is sometimes the
case, bullying should not be taken lightly.

Common Misconceptions About Bullying

There are many common misconceptions about bullying. Thinking that bullying is
a normal part of childhood and the victims should just toughen up is perhaps
the most stereotypical view of bullying and the biggest bullying misconception.
Thinking this way can have serious consequences for both victims and bullies.
Bullying should not be tolerated and letting a bully continue picking on others
just reinforces their behavior and sets them up to continue making poor choices
for the rest of their lives. Bullying victims can also suffer from low self
esteem, depression, and a poor self image.

Another bullying misconception is that bullies have low self esteem. Many
bullies are popular and are very confident. Bullies are not the unconfident
kids trying to make up for their problems like people once assumed. Bullying
may actually be a way that kids try to dominate others and assert their power.
Children who bully often act in conjunction with their friends and use bullying
as a way to fit in with them. Children who have friends and like to be in
control will bully others as a way to assert their power and impress their
fiends, albeit in the wrong way.

Many people also have the bullying misconception that bullying occurs only in
lower class neighborhoods and schools. This is not the case, and plenty of
bullying cases occur in high class neighborhoods and schools. Bullying can
occur no matter what socioeconomic class a child is in. Many upper-class
schools have bullying problems because children feel as though they are better
than others and try to show how much power they have over children they
perceive as weaker than them.

The bullying misconception that boys are only kids that bully is also wrong.
Boys do bully more than girls, but girls can also be bullies. Bullying among
boys is often physical where girls tend to use emotional bullying by saying
mean things and spreading rumors to humiliate people. Bothe types of bullying
can have devastating effects on bullying victims and leave them with self
esteem problems and a lifetime of insecurity.

Another bullying misconception is that bullying most commonly occurs in high
school rather than in younger children. Studies have shown that bullying occurs
at all ages but the most common ages are in middle school, not high school and
elementary. Children from 9-13 years old are the most likely ages to bully.
Children in this age group are just beginning to face stress in school and the
pressure to fit in, so bullying becomes a common way cope with these problems.

Many people think that remarks made with bullying most commonly target
intelligence and are meant to demean a person. Studies suggest, however, that
the most common insults used while bullying are about a kid's perceived sexual
orientation. As ridiculous as it sounds, this is the most common thing kids
tease each other about. Finding socially unacceptable faults such as these make
some children easier targets for bullying. There are many bullying
misconceptions and truly understanding what bullying is will help to stop and
prevent it.

Cyber Bullying VS Traditional Bullying

Bullying has long been a problem in school but was usually confined to the
school yard or the hallway. Technology makes bullying even easier than it was
before with email, chat rooms, and an unlimited audience online. There was a
time when all bullying happened face to face but now with the internet,
children can bully each other through popular communication methods even
anonymously. Traditional bullies always had to let their victims see them and
could only gain the support of friends who were around. Cyber bullies can
humiliate, threaten, and belittle their victims without their identity being
known, or they can have an audience of thousands. Cyber bullies are becoming
more and more common as children use these communication methods more and more
in their daily lives.

Cyber bullies can say things that they can not in front of other people in chat
rooms, IM's and on websites. This allows children to be much meaner than they
traditionally could. Things that they could not say in front of adults and even
other children are now easily said online. Cyber bullying is potentially an even
bigger threat than traditional bullying because the potential for damaging
statements is even greater. Traditional bullies could only reach an audience of
the other children around, with the internet hundreds of children can gang up on
a single child.

Cyber bullying is also easier to do than traditional bullying. All it takes is
a few key strokes and a cyber bully can humiliate their target. Children are
less inhibited when online and it is not as hard to bully when it is over a
computer. Traditional bullies had to have the courage to physically bully
another child or at least use comments to their face. Cyber bullies have to use
much less effort and can be more impulsive.

Traditional bullies could only act out on their victims when they saw them.
This confined bullying to school and places that children interacted face to
face. Cyber bullies can bully others any time as cell phones and computers are
both at home and at school. Traditional bullies could not hurt others at home,
but with cyber bullies, home is usually where bullying occurs via the computer.
This leaves no safe place for the targets of bullying to go as computers are
essential nowadays for completing schoolwork and communicating with friends.

Even though emails and messages are easy to stop, cyber bullies is not as easy
to stop as traditional bullies are. Derogatory and hurtful comments posted
online and shared between people are impossible to stop and can potentially
reach an unlimited number of people. Once a comment is posted online it can
reach an unlimited number of people and the ramifications can be huge. Stopping
a traditional bully was relatively easy with the right preventative measures,
but the anonymous nature of the internet makes it impossible.

There are many differences between cyber bullies and traditional bullies but
both types are serious issues. Bullying negatively affects both the bully and
the victim and if not stopped can cause serious long term damage.

Is Your Child a Bully?

If you suspect that your child is a bully, you should take steps to ensure that
they do not harm others or start a habit of ridiculing people that will stick
with them for the rest of their lives. Bullying can have serious consequences
for children, including the bully. Children who bully are much more likely to
get involved with drugs and crime later in life as well as have poor
interpersonal skills. This is why it is important to stop them if they are
bullies, not to mention all the damage they can do to other children.

If you think your child is a bully, there are some questions you can ask to
determine if they really are, and behaviors you should look out for. If you
know that your child has repeatedly hit, pushed, or otherwise hurt another
child, this is a sign that they may be a bully. Not all children will exhibit
this behavior in front of a adult or even admit to it, but habitually hurting
others is a big bullying warning sign. If your child has ever ganged up with
another child to hurt someone or asked their friends to hurt another person
they may also be a bully.

If you have seen your child spread rumors about another child either when
talking to a friend or through a note, email, or IM, then they may be a bully.
Emotionally hurting other children is another common way that children bully
one and other and is just as serious. If your child is a bully, they will use
these methods to humiliate other children. Bullies will also exclude others
from play and other activities to bully them so if you think your child is a
bully watch for this behavior.

Good natured teasing does occur between children and chances are you will hear
your child teasing their friends at one point or another. Teasing another child
if it is unwanted or hurtful, indicates bullying. If you think your child is a
bully, this teasing will not be good natured and between friends. It will be
frequent and directed at children that they are not friends with. If you see
your child doing this behavior make sure you let then know that it is not
acceptable, and that it is not funny and will not help them to make healthy
friends. Many times a bully does not understand the consequences of their
actions and needs help understanding what can happen.

If you notice that close friends of your child partake in this type of
behavior, it does not always mean your child is a bully but they may act along
with their friends. It is common for a child to bully others because their
friends do it, and even though they are not the one who initiates the bullying,
they can suffer just the same. If you notice this type of behavior in either
your child or their friends, make sure they know that bullying is not
acceptable.

Addressing a Bullying Victim -- Tips for Teachers

Bullying is all too common in schools today. It is also a problem that should
not be taken lightly; bullying can have serious consequences. Children bully
for many reasons and sometimes it resolves itself and other times permanent
damage can be done to bullying victims. Because of the possibility of physical
and emotional injury, all cases of bullying must be taken seriously.

Teachers are often the first adults to realize that bullying is occurring
because they can observe children interacting. Helping a bullying victim can be
a sensitive matter, but both bullies and bullying victims must be dealt with to
ensure that the bullying stops. If you are a teacher or caregiver, there are
some tips you can use to help a bullying victim.

You should let the bullying victim know that you care about them and are
concerned about what is happening. At the same time, being overly sympathetic
especially in front of others can be counter productive. Do not try to discuss
the problem with a bullying victim until you are alone or not in the presence
of any other children. Ask that the bullying victim tell you exactly what is
happening and reassure them that their feelings are normal and that it is not
their fault. Let the bullying victim know that talking about their problem to
your and their parents will only help the situation and is the right thing to
do. Give the bullying victim tools and information to cope with and prevent
further bullying issues.

Talking to the parents of the bullying victim is also important. Parents and
teachers working together is the best way to stop bullying and help a bullying
victim. You should also speak with the parents of the bully so that they can
address the problem at the cause. Explain what is happening in a
non-confrontational manner and dispel any misunderstandings about bullying that
parents may have. Many parents think that bullying is normal and is no big deal,
but once they know how serious it can be they will be more concerned.

You should give parents tools and information to help them address bullying
issues with their child. Teachers play an important role in preventing and
solving bullying problems. Both the bullying victim and the bully should be
counseled on ways to deal with their problems to prevent bullying in the future.

Bullying is a very common problem that children face, and eventually you will
have to deal with it head on. Remember that it is a touchy subject with most
children and they may be reluctant to talk about it. Because bullying can turn
into a serious problem, it should not be ignored. Do your best to reassure the
bullying victim and make the bully aware that their actions are not acceptable
and can have serious consequences. Parental involvement is also important and
can go a long way to solve the problem. Addressing both the bullying victim and
the bully in a timely fashion is the best way to curtail bullying in your school.

What To Do If Your Child Is A Victim of Bullying

One of parent's worst nightmares is to find out that their child is being
picked on in school. Some parents view bullying as normal behavior that is no
big deal, and while many cases of bullying do resolve themselves, other times a
victim of bullying can suffer long term affects. Parents should not take
bullying lightly, but at the same time, overreacting is also not a good idea.
If your child is a victim of bullying, you should assess the seriousness of the
situation and react accordingly. Taking steps to stop the bullying is the best
thing a parent can do with out singling out their child.

If your child comes to you and says they are the victim of bullying, or you
think that they may be the victim of bullying, talk with them to see what is
going on. Children are often reluctant to talk about being the victim of
bullying so it is important to reassure them that talking about it will only
help and that you care about their well-being. Many kids think that telling
their parents or teachers about being a victim of bullying will only make it
worse so be sure to take positive steps to stop it that will not instigate the
problem.

Children are often afraid that they bully will find out that they told on them
and bully them even more severely. While this is a legitimate fear, taking the
proper action will not result in this.

You should find out what your child has tried to do to stop the bullying and
give them other ways to stop it. Often if the victim of bullying reacts in the
right way, the bully will stop. If your child is being bullied but the
situation is not putting them at any risk of physical, emotional, or self
esteem damage, the best thing to do is to give your child advice on how to stop
bullying themselves and let them handle it. Sometimes ignoring a bully, using
humor, or just remaining calm will stop bullying. When children react
confidently and assert themselves to a bully, he will often stop without adult
intervention.

If your child is a victim of bullying and it is severe enough to cause
physical, emotional or self-esteem damage, then you and your child should
contact the school and inform your child's teacher and principal what is going
on. Schools have no tolerance for bullying and if they are aware of what is
going on will work with parents and students to create a solution. Confronting
the parent of your child's bully may or may not be a good idea so it is best to
talk with the school first. Sometimes a bully's parents will be unaware of what
is going on and will be willing to help. Other times a bullies parents will
deny that there is a problem or not want to help. In any case, the bully needs
to be stopped and some sort of positive action should be taken.

Military Bullying

In school and in the workplace, standing up to a bully can be hard but it is
possible and leaving the situation is also an option. For bullying that occurs
in the military, victims have a much harder time coping. For military personnel
who are subjected to bullying by their peers and even superior officers, they
have little recourse or ways to seek help. Military bullying is common in the
armed forces and has even caused quite a few suicides in the armies of various
countries. Although the armed forces have policies on hazing and bullying, they
often go un enforced and military bullying continues. Bullying in the military
is a very serious issue, although it is often overlooked.

In the civilian world, bullying victims can stand up to their bullies, file
claims against them, and seek other forms of help. In the armed forces,
soldiers are subject to severe discipline and have no realistic options to
fight bullying. Soldiers are isolated both socially and by having to reside
only on base or in the field. Military Bullying victims cannot seek outside
help or the help of other officers for fear of severe discipline. Often the
military bullying occurs from a senior officer to a lower ranking soldier so
they have no way to fight back. Trapped in this vicious cycle, many soldiers
seek out suicide as their only option to stop the violence.

Soldiers are usually unable to leave the base or the field for prolonged
amounts of time, which prevents them from getting help. They are trapped in
their situation, isolated and venerable to more bullying. They are forced to
endure bullying with no way to take action. The military environment is the
prefect environment for bullying to thrive as it is based on a hierarchy and
solders are forced to prove that they are macho and worthy of service. Although
the military environment is the perfect catalyst for bullying, there is no
reason why it should occur and damages the lives of countless solders.

Even older personnel are not immune to military bullying, even though it most
commonly occurs with new recruits. Older officers can be bullied into leaving
their position early or to make decisions in the favor of other officers. Many
times older personnel are bullied into retiring early to save on pension costs.
Even when confronted with the problem of military bullying, few people admit
that it is quite common and can have serious consequences. Because of the
attitude of the armed forces, bullying is often overlooked which is a tragedy
for those victimized..

There have been numerous cases of suicides form severe military bullying and
even cases that appeared to be homicides but were never found as such. Even
though the military environment seems to necessitate bullying, it should not be
allowed. The rules and regulations that are supposed to stop military bullying
are seldom followed, allowing bullying to continue unchecked in the military.
Many cases of military bullying are covered up or denied to lessen the
seriousness of the problem.

What To Do If Your Child Is A Bully

Children commonly tease each other and often times it is in good nature and has
no negative effects. However, when a child becomes a bully, they can seriously
injure children both physically and emotionally. It is important to stop
bullying before it escalates to the point that a child is hurt. Most people
think about stopping bullying by dealing with the victim, but what should you
do if your child is a bully?

There are many different reasons why a child becomes a bully, some are not too
serious and can easily be overcome and others are serious issues that must be
dealt with for the well-being of both bully and victim. Children may bully
others because they have low self-esteem themselves, they want attention of are
trying to fit in with other kids that bully. They may experience abuse or
bullying themselves from other children or adults. No matter what the reason
is, if your child is a bully you should take the following actions.

You should first discuss with your child what has been going on and get their
side of the story. Many times a child who is a bully is being bullied himself
or is facing other types of abuse. Always get your child's side of the story to
determine their motive behind being a bully. If your child is looking for
attention, trying to make friends, or has low self-esteem himself, you can
better help him cope with his problems if you find the underlying cause of what
is going on.

Let your child know that bullying is a serious issue and will have negative
consequences if it continues. Schools do not tolerate bullying and eventually
your child's actions will catch up with him. Let him know that his behavior
must stop or there will be serious consequences. Many times a bully who is not
stopped will have lifelong problems with crime and drugs.

Talk to your child's teacher or other school official who has or can witness
your child's bullying. Working together to stop your child's bullying will be
more effective than working alone. Discuss ways to work together to stop your
child from being a bully. Teachers are more than willing to help stop bullying
as schools take it very seriously.

If there are other children involved with your child's bullying, talk to their
parents. Sometimes children act together as bullies and not all the parents may
be aware of it. Parents that act together will strengthen the message that being
a bully is not ok and have an easier time of stopping it.

Finally, you should address the reason why your child is being a bully. If your
child wants attention, more friends, or just to fit in, give them ways to
accomplish this without bullying. If your child has other issues that may be
more serious like bipolar disorder or low self-esteem, seek professional help
for the well-being of your child. Giving your child positive ways to problem
solve will go a long way to stop their bullying.

Differences Between Adult Bullying and Harassment

Adult bullying in the workplace occurs more often than people think, if they
are aware that it occurs at all. Many people think bullying in the workplace is
the same as harassment, and while they are similar, there are differences
between bullying and harassment. There is a fine line in many cases, but one of
the major differences between bullying and harassment in the workplace is that
harassment is easy to stop whereas bullying is not.

One of the main differences between bullying and harassment is that harassment
has physical components such has unwanted touching, intruding in personal
space, and damaging possessions. Bullying is almost always emotional or
psychological and involves verbal and written communication and actions. The
subtle nature of workplace bullying makes it harder to stop than harassment.

Another one of the differences between bullying and harassment is that adult
bullies will target anyone, even popular successful people. Adult bullies will
target people they perceive as a better than tem at their job not people who
are a minority or weaker than themselves. Harassment, however, usually singles
out people who are different based on racial, gender, and other differences.
Harassment of these minorities is identified and even expected, but bullying of
people who do not have these differences is harder to identify. Harassment is
based on discrimination, one of the differences between bullying and harassment
is that bullying is based on jealousy or insecurity.

Only one instance of harassment is needed to identify it as harassment. The
differences between bullying and harassment are that bullying is an ongoing
problem. Harassment can happen repeatedly but it does not have to. Bullying
always occurs more than once and many time very frequently. Harassment it also
obvious and involves things that companies make very clear. Bullying can be
much more subtle and the victim may not even realize they are being bullied
until after it has been occurring regularly. The differences between bullying
and harassment are that harassment victims are recognized and sympathized with,
while bullying victims are often not recognized or dealt with in the appropriate
manner.

Another one of the differences between bullying and harassment is that
harassment is often done in the open and to boost the image of the person doing
the harassment or prove to their peers that they are macho. These motives behind
harassment are different than the motives behind bullying. Bullying usually
occurs in private and is not publicly admitted. A workplace bully does not want
other to know what they are doing and will deny that anything is going on at
all. Adult bullies just want to damage their target enough so that they are not
a threat anymore.

Harassment can take place both inside and outside of work while bullying occurs
mostly in the workplace. Harassers often take pleasure in targeting others,
while bullies do it to hide their own insecurities and to eliminate the threat
they perceive in other people. There are many differences between bullying and
harassment, which must be identified in order to differentiate between both
types of injustices.

What to do if you Witness Bullying

If your child witnesses bullying, it is a great time to tell them how they can
help to stop it. Children who take a proactive approach to bullying will go
long way to stop it from happening again. Make sure your child knows what to do
if they see bullying, especially since they can be reluctant to tell an adult
about it. The following advice is great for kids who have seen bullying and
want to know what to do about it. Openly discussing how to handle the situation
if your child witnesses bullying is a good way to give your child positive ways
to deal with it.

Your child can probably imagine how they would feel if they were bullied. Most
children can understand how much bullying can hurt, and also how hard it is to
talk to someone. Make sure they know if they ever witness bullying that it is
ok to tell an adult, and is actually the right ting to do. Kids may feel like
they cannot tell an adult because the bullying will get worse but normally the
bully will never find out and will be stopped. Telling an adult is the best way
to stop bullying although there are things your child can do to help as well.

You should encourage your child to tell you, and the teachers or other adults
that can help if they witness bullying. Tell your child that you, and all other
school officials will be happy to help if they are made aware that a child is
being bullied. Make sure your child knows that telling an adult about bullying
is not like tattle tailing because bullying is a serious issue. Make sure that
your child is not afraid to speak up if they witness bullying.

You should also tell your child that if they witness bullying a good thing to
do is to support the child being bullied. Your child will probably be
sympathetic towards the child being bullied and standing up for them, or at
least spending time with them, will help to alleviate the bullying. You should
not force your child to do so, but make sure they know that it is a good way to
make a difference.

Your child should only stand up to a bully if they feel comfortable doing so.
If your child witness bullying, make sure they know that they should stand up
to the bully calmly and show them that their actions are not cool or funny. If
your child does not feel comfortable doing this, make sure they know that it is
ok as well. Sometimes it is best to just ignore the bullying attempts they
witness and encourage the victim to do so as well.

Kids that witness bullying can do a lot to stop it by getting involved. Kids
that witness bullying should not put themselves in the position to get bullied,
rather notify an adult right away and if they feel comfortable doing so stand up
for the bullying victim. Most kids will be willing to help in this way,
especially if it is a friend who is being bullied.

How to Prevent Bullying

Many children are victims of bullying. Most of these children don't know how to
stop of prevent bullying which is why we as adults must step in to ensure that
bullying does not occur. There are many different reasons why kids bully
others, and bullying cases can very in severity. No matter how severe bullying
is, it is never acceptable and should be handled quickly. If you think your
child is at a risk for being bullied, there are things you can do to prevent
bullying. It is easier to prevent bullying than to stop it once it has started
so keep the following tips in mind for your child to prevent bullying before it
starts.

Bullying often happens in unsupervised areas so to prevent bullying tell your
kids to avoid being alone in hallways, at recess, and in other areas of the
school. Encourage your child to meet and associate with quality friends as
bullies are more likely to target children that are alone. Another way to
prevent bullying is to advise your child to walk away from situation with
bullies. Many times ignoring bullying attempts is the best way to prevent
bullying as most bullies are trying to get a reaction out of the children they
pick on.

Bullies like to pick on children who are not confident or assertive. Teaching
kids to act confidently is a good way to prevent bullying. Children who appear
confident and can assert themselves when confronted by a bully are less likely
to be picked on. Even if a bully targets your child once, a calm and confident
reaction will decrease the chances that your child will be targeted again.
Children should not cry or get upset if they are bullied, instead the best way
to prevent bullying is for them to use an assertive voice and tell the bully to
stop. Bullies like to get a rise out of the kids they pick on so children that
are clam and assertive will be less likely to be bullied again.

Because bullies like to pick on children who are not confident, a good way to
prevent bullying is to get your child involved in activities that boost their
confidence. Children who have other areas of their life to feel confident in
will carry over that attitude into situations where they can be bullied. Any
enjoyable activity that your child excels at will help to make them more
confident and in turn that confidence will help prevent bullying. If your child
has confidence and self esteem, it will be easier for them to ignore a bully and
not let the bully's actions bother them.

If your child learns how to respond to a bully and develops a good self image,
it will be easy for them to prevent bullying. Make sure your child knows that
the bullying is not their fault if they are targeted and that it is not
acceptable. Many children are hesitant to turn to adults for help, but telling
an adult right away is the best way to prevent bullying in the future.

What is Workplace Bullying?

Although bullying is considered something that happens between children at
school, it can also happen between adults in the workplace. Workplace bullying
is when one employee, or a group of employees, targets another person for
ridicule, criticism, and threats. Workplace bullying is more common than many
people think and can take on different forms. Many times the person who is
being bullied will not try to peruse their bully, because they are unsure what
to do.

Workplace bullying, like the bullying that takes place between children, is
meant to damage another person either physically or emotionally; in the adult
world it is usually emotionally. Victims of workplace bullying are constantly
criticized for trivial things and their accomplishments are belittled or
overlooked. Victims of workplace bullying are also undermined by the bully at
every chance they get. Victims are often the target of false accusations and
doubts as well. Even though these accusations and doubts are untrue, a
workplace bully uses them to control their victim.

Another form of workplace bullying is exclusion from groups or denial of
information about what is going on in the workplace. Workplace bullying victims
are often left out of the loop by their bullies and denied access to resources
and projects. This occurs because a bully is trying to undermine their victim
and make their own work seem better than it is. Victims of workplace bullying
are also treated differently than everyone else by the bully, and are subject
to stricter rules and different standards. This is done to make it easier for
them to fail and seem inadequate.

Workplace bullying can also include shouting, humiliating, and teasing the
victim. Workplace bullies will do this to try to damage their victims
confidence and make their work suffer. Workplace bullies often set higher
standards and unrealistic goals and deadlines for their victims to make them
look bad. Workplace bullying victims can also be given excessive work or forced
to work an excessive amount of hours under threat of dismissal.

Another common form of workplace bullying is having work stolen. A workplace
bully will take the work of their victim and then pass it off as their own to
their boss or manager. The victim will usually have no proof that the work is
actually theirs and will have no recourse. Workplace bullying victims are also
commonly denied of requests they make for time off, even if they are entitled
to them. Workplace bullying victims are made to think that they are at fault
even though it is the bully who is wrong. Workplace bullies will do whatever it
takes to eliminate their perceived threats.

It can be hard to identify workplace bullying and even harder to stop it,
keeping a record of bullying interactions and remaining calm is the best way to
deal with workplace bullying. Sometimes it will be necessary to take your
problems to your superiors, even if you skip over a direct supervisor. Do not
accept workplace bullying and do your best to try and stop it.

Is My Child in Danger of Becoming a Bully?

Bullies are commonly thought of as children who have low self-esteem and are
unpopular. While many times this is true, bullies can also be popular and
confident and act out to impress friends or assert their dominance over their
victims. Bullies will often have many friends who contribute to and support
bullying behavior. There are many reasons why children become bullies and there
are risk factors for bullying behavior that increase the chances a child will
become a bully. Not all bullies seemingly have these tendencies, but many do.

Bullying is different with males and females, although the risk factors for
bullying behavior are similar. Male bullies are often bigger, more popular, and
more aggressive than their victims are. Risk factors for bullying behavior in
males include impulsive behavior, an angry disposition, general aggression, and
poor ability to cope with problems or frustration. Having poor problem solving
skills is the reason many children resort to bullying. Male bullies often feel
the need to be dominant and have a hard time empathizing with others as well.

These risk factors for bullying behavior do not guarantee that a male child
will become a bully but they do indicate an increased risk for bullying
behavior. Giving children with these traits positive ways to deal with their
stress is a good way to prevent bullying.

Female bullies have similar risk factors for bullying behavior although the way
in which females bully each other is usually different. Females tend to use more
social and psychological forms of bullying than physical forms. Girls tend to
use mean comments and other emotional abuse to bully their victims. Girls who
frequently exclude others in activities, are generally mean spirited, or
frequently gossip have increased risk factors for bullying behavior. Impulsive
behavior, an angry disposition, general aggression, and poor ability to cope
with problems or frustration are also risk factors for bullying behavior in
girls although girls tend to do their bullying in non-physical ways.

All children have risk factors for bullying behavior if they come from unstable
home environments. Children whose parents give them little attention, emotional
support, and supervision all have increased risk factors for bullying behavior.
Parents who are not involved in their children's life or have extreme discipline
practices are also giving their children an increased risk factor for bullying
behavior. Children need to learn positive ways to problem solve and the
importance of treating others kindly and with respect.

This type of home life can cause children to start bullying to seek attention,
to make up for their home life, or just because they think that is the way to
solve their problems because they have no better examples of problem solving
from home. Not all children from homes with a poor environment will become
bullies, some overcome their home lives and understand on their own that
bullying is not a good way to solve problems. If you know that your child has
any of these risk factors, make sure you teach them positive problem solving
methods and make it clear that bullying is unacceptable.

How to Stop Cyber Bullying

Cyber bullying is the new way that bullies target their victims. They use IM's,
chat rooms, and websites to threaten, humiliate, and belittle their victims. If
your child has experienced cyber bullying you should take it seriously.
Discourage your child from responding to cyber bullying and make sure you save
all the messages and pictures that were used to bully your child. You should
also try to identify the person or people who are doing the bullying, and if
the bullying breaks the law you can have authorities trace it for you.

Sometimes using inappropriate language violates the terms of chat room and IM
service agreements and the bully may be banned from using these services if
they are reported.

It is also possible to block most cyber bullying attacks on the phone and
computer. Screen names and phone numbers can be blocked so that your child will
not continue to receive inappropriate messages. Bullies can assume new names but
chances are they will loose interest if they are continually blocked. If your
child's cyber bullying occurs at school, you should contact the schools
administrator so they can stop it. Sending messages that are considered
bullying is against school rules and action will be taken if it occurs on
school property. There is little schools can do if the cyber bullying occurs
off school property, but depending on what is happening, you may be able to
take legal action.

You may not know the identity of the cyber bully as the internet can be
anonymous. If you do know the identity of the cyber bully, contacting their
parents is a good idea.. You should make your contact written and be sure to
explain the situation in a non confrontational manner. The bullies parents may
not be aware that their child is bullying others online and will probably be
willing to help. If you have proof of the cyber bullying instances show them to
the bullies parents so that they can see what is going on.

Children are often not aware of the damage and the ramifications that can occur
as a result of cyber bullying, and will continue if adults do not step in to
stop them. Even if children know the damage they can cause, chances are they
will not stop until adults take action.

If cyber bullying is serious enough, it can actually be against the law. If
cyber bullying is harassing, threatening, or pornographic in nature you should
contact authorities because this type of bullying may be illegal and you may be
able to take legal action. Sometimes cyber bullies will steal passwords and
accounts, which is also illegal. Contact your local police department and tell
them what has been going on. Make sure you take action as soon as you realize
that your child is being bullied online. Sometimes cases of cyber bullying can
get out of hand and have serious consequences. The huge audience that cyber
bullying can attract make it much worse than traditional bullying and can
permanently damage a child emotionally.

The Facts on Cyber Bullying

Cyber bullying is the newest type of bullying and has not been studied as much
as traditional forms of bullying. Many children report being bullied via the
internet or cell phone and the effects can be devastating. Children also report
that bullies spread rumors and say other mean things about them online where
many different people can see it. The potential audience for cyber bullying is
unlimited making it even more appealing to bullies. Bullies will also threaten
their victims online and belittle them for their own amusement.

Girls are twice as likely as boys to be cyber bullies as well as be targeted by
cyber bullies. Normally boys are the most likely children to bully others but
this is not true with cyber bullying. Boys tend to physically bully others
while girls use emotional methods, which can be perfectly carried out over the
computer. Cyber bullying also can be anonymous and many children who are the
victims of cyber bullying never know who was bullying them. Cyber bullying is
not restricted to school either, it can happen anywhere children have access to
computers or cell phones. Bullying used to be confined to school, but with cyber
bullying can now reach children anywhere.

Cyber bullying commonly occurs in IM's and in chat rooms. Cyber bullying can
also occur in blogs and on websites when a bully posts damaging things about
their victim. The internet makes bullying easy and bullies can torment victims
in new ways. Using the internet gives cyber bullies an even more devious way to
humiliate others than traditional bullying. About half of pre teens tell an
adult about their experiences with cyber bullying and this number drops as
children get older. Cyber bullying also makes it easier for the victim to
retaliate against the bully as they can just as easily post their own damaging
responses. This ease of use makes perpetuating the bullying cycle more common.
This is not necessarily the best idea, as it will probably make the bullying
worse and only reinforce the idea that bullying is ok.

Cyber bullying can affect anyone and the same stereotypes that apply to
traditional bullying do not apply to cyber bullying. Cyber bullies can pick on
anyone, even those more confident and popular than themselves. Cyber bullies
can even pick on children older and bigger than them because of the anonymous
nature of the internet. If a cyber bully wants to hurt another person, the
internet gives them the perfect vehicle to do so.

Parents must take steps to stop and prevent cyber bullying just like other
types of bullying. Any form of bullying can have serious consequences and cyber
bullying can be particularly dangerous because it can reach so many people and
be so humiliating. Take cyber bullying seriously so that your child does not
fall victim, or bully others. Make your child aware that cyber bullying is
unacceptable and if they are the target they should tell an adult right away.
Taking action quickly is the best way to stop cyber bullying before it gets out
of hand.

How to Deal With a Bully in the Workplace

Many people are unaware that adult bullying occurs, and chances are if you are
being bullied at work you have no idea how to handle it. It can be hard to deal
with an adult bully because workplace bullying is not widely known or
understood. Often times the bully is a person of authority, making it even
harder to deal with an adult bully. There are not set rules for dealing with an
adult bullies there are harassment laws, so stopping an adult bully can be
especially challenging. If you or someone you know needs help dealing with an
adult bully, these tips can help.

The first thing you should do to deal with an adult bully is to keep a detailed
written account of each instance of bullying. Being able to prove that you are
constantly singled out for no reason and are the target of frequent attacks
will go a long way to deal with an adult bully. Keep your records in a safe
place, not at work where the bully can find them. You should also keep copies
of all written interactions from the bully including memos, notes, and emails
that prove you are being treated unfairly. Make a list of every instance of
unfair treatment by the bully.

If you are criticized or accused of wrongdoing by a bully and the claims are
not true, ask for substantiated evidence of these claims and record in writing
what the bully says. Many times the bully will not have a response or have
evidence that is untrue. Their lack of answer or untrue answer will further
prove your case and help to deal with an adult bully. You can even point out to
the bully that making false accusations is a form of harassment and that you
will seek out the proper recourse.

If you are not the only one being bullied, find other employees that have the
same experiences and see if they want to pursue the bully together. Sometimes
other employees that are having similar problems will be unwilling to
cooperate, but sometimes they will be grateful for the help. More than one
employee who have the same experiences with a bully will have better chances of
dealing with an adult bully together. It will help that you are not the only one
experiencing the problem and give validation to your claims.

If your occupation has a union or other professional organization, contact them
about your bullying problem. Not all unions or organizations will help employees
deal with an adult bully but many will or will have information you can use. You
can also take your bullying problems to your manager or supervisor, unless they
are the one doing the bullying. It is not usually a good idea to skip the
proper chain of command, but if a supervisor of manager is the one bullying
you, it may be a good idea to speak with their higher-up. If you are the victim
of workplace bullying your should get a copy of your company's harassment and
bullying policies so you knew what your rights are within the company.

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