Bullies and Cyber Bullying in Elementary School

Most kids have reported being teased in a playful, friendly, and non-threatening way. However, teasing has the potential to become serious when it's hurtful, abrasive, and constant. This type of constant teasing may also be referred to as bullying. As parents, we don't even want to imagine our children becoming the target of a bully, but unfortunately it happens... and a lot more often than you think.

By: Dr. Adria O'Donnell, Clinical and Consulting Psychology, Expert Advisor at KidPointz.com
Combating bullying is something that you can work on with your child now, whether they have been bullied or not. It's important to prepare your child for this type of situation so they know exactly how to act in case a bully approaches them. Teaching your child to be calm and confident in the face of a bully is hard, but, like anything, it gets easier and more effective with practice.

Most parents have heard the term "cyber bullying" before. Stories about cyber bullying are common on TV shows and on news outlets. Cyber bullying happens when a child or teen is tormented, threatened, humiliated, harassed, embarrassed, or otherwise targeted by another child or teen using the Internet, mobile phones, or other digital technologies. Although it may seem like something that is unlikely to happen to your kids, cyber bullying affects children everywhere on a daily basis. Cyber bullying may lead to serious complications including anxiety, depression, and even suicide.

All parents worry that their child may be bullied. It's a scenario that leaves parents feeling sad and frustrated. But the truth of the matter is that someone's kid is doing the bullying, and it just may be yours! If you suspect or have been told that your child is engaged in bullying behavior, it is time to take things seriously. Address the situation right away before it gets out of hand.

Bullying results in short-term and long-term effects for both the child being bullied and the bully him/herself. Being the victim of a bully is extremely stressful for any child. What’s worse, kids who are bullied are often reluctant to talk about it and tell their stories. Bullying is more dangerous than parents think, and it's important to nip bullying in the bud as soon as it starts.

Kids entering elementary school are exposed to a larger degree of social interaction than they may have experienced previously. Many kids are subject to bullying for the first time. For parents looking to help kids adjust to life in elementary school, addressing the topic of bullying is a crucial conversation.

Bullying is becoming increasingly common amongst school-aged children and teenagers. Both those being bullied and the bullies themselves need help dealing with this challenge. As more kids are getting on the Internet, many of them are experiencing cyber bullying as well. Bullying happens for a variety of reasons but commonly results in a form of aggressive behavior that is intentional and ultimately hurts or threatens to hurt a person physically and/or emotionally. Bullying and cyber bullying are persistent and ongoing problems that result in both short-term and long-term effects for the child being bullied as well as the bully herself.

Bullying in schools is a widespread problem. Bullying has the potential to cause negative short-term and long-term effects for both the victim and the bully. There are various types of bullying behavior and a bully can exhibit several of these forms in order to intimidate or possess power over someone else.

Bullying occurs when someone repeatedly does or says something that has power over the other person, resulting in fear, humiliation, anxiety, and alienation. Kids experience different kinds of bullying to various degrees as they get older, but the bottom line is that bullying should not be accepted by anyone at any time.

The last thing a parent wants is for a child to be bullied. And rightfully so! There are many issues that may result from being bullied such as depression, low self-esteem, school absences, and even suicide. If your child is being bullied, know that it is not something for you or your child to ignore.