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The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) and Child Care Aware do not endorse nor are we responsible for the information or materials posted on any of the resource’s websites.ABC... 123... Please Don't Pick on Me
November 28, 2005
Bullying behavior has been identified as early as preschool. For some children it can turn into an adult habit. It is a problem in schools and communities throughout the world. "Between 15% and 30% of students are bullies or victims." 1
Bullying can happen in different forms. "Direct, physical bullying increases in elementary school, peaks in middle school and declines in high school. Verbal abuse, on the other hand, remains constant." 1 Studies tell us:
- About 160,000 students miss school each day due to fear of bullying.
- 14% of those who face severe bullying suffer lifelong psychiatric problems.
- 22% of students who experience bullying have learning problems.
- Children who are bullies are six times more likely to have a criminal history by age 24.
School personnel often ignore bullying or respond poorly according to over two-thirds of students in a recent study. Many schools are trying to improve means of preventing bullying by introducing anti-bullying programs and policies.
So, what else can our schools do?
- Admit and confront the situation. Admit that bullying does happen in schools and address the problem. "Group, classroom, and building-wide social skills training are highly recommended, as well as counseling and systematic aggression interventions for students exhibiting bullying and victim behaviors." 1
- "Balance discipline with behavioral supports." 1 Create a set of clear rules and consequences that address the behavior and its underlying causes. Make sure all children, parents or guardians, and community members are aware of the rules and consequences. "Incorporating positive behavioral interventions with loss of privileges or other consequences will do more to change students' behavior than approaches based solely on punishment." 1
- Supervision and Intervention. School personnel should be trained on how to identify and respond to bullying. Provide supervision in all areas.
- "Change attitudes toward bullying." 1 " Consistently modeling appropriate behavior, praising children when they do the right thing, intervening immediately when bullying occurs, and offering children alternatives to bullying will change attitudes and behaviors." 1
- Student support each other. Establish a buddy system between older and younger students. Teach students to support and work together to stop bullying.
- "Create a positive school atmosphere." 1 Develop an environment of respect and cooperation in the school. "Children should trust that an adult can and will help them if they are being bullied." 1
Coming together with the school and community will begin to knock out the bullies. It will also help decrease the violence and crime rates according to a recent study stating that "since 1992, there have been 250 deaths in schools that involved multiple victims. In virtually every school shooting, bullying has been a factor." 1
1 National Association of School Psychologist. Bullying Prevention: What Schools and Parents Can Do (2005).
Resources:
Bullying What Can Parents Do To Help Their Children?
Think You Know What a Bully Looks Like? Think Again
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