School Bullying Affects Majority Of Elementary Students

ScienceDaily (Apr. 12, 2007) — Nine out of 10 elementary students have been bullied by their peers, according to a simple questionnaire developed by researchers at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and the Stanford University School of Medicine. What's more, nearly six in 10 children surveyed in the preliminary study reported participating in some type of bullying themselves in the past year.

The survey explored two forms of bullying: direct, such as threatening physical harm, and indirect, such as excluding someone or spreading rumors. The researchers say the five-minute questionnaire is the first simple, reliable way for teachers and physicians to identify kids at risk and to measure the success of interventions aimed at reducing bullying in schools.

"We know that both bullies and victims tend to suffer higher levels of depression and other mental health problems throughout their lives," said child psychiatrist Tom Tarshis, MD, lead author of the study. "We need to change the perception that bullying at school is a part of life and that victims just need to toughen up."

Tarshis was completing a fellowship in child psychiatry and research at Packard Children's at the time he developed the questionnaire. He is currently the director of the Bay Area Children's Association. The research will be published in the April issue of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

"When I first started to study this subject, there was no real questionnaire that had been tested," said Tarshis. "We couldn't take the next step until we had a tool that we knew worked."

Although the classic definition of bullying brings to mind fistfights in the schoolyard, other more subtle forms of torment also were surveyed. Tarshis recounted a girl in the ninth grade whose friends decided to stop speaking to her, spread nasty rumors about her and exclude her from activities, all right under the nose of an unsuspecting teacher.

"It was a little distressing how prevalent the problem is even in the middle- to upper-middle-class schools we surveyed," said Tarshis.

He and his co-author, Lynne Huffman, MD, associate professor of pediatrics and of psychiatry at the School of Medicine, surveyed 270 children in grades three through six in two schools in California and one in Arizona to determine if the 22-item questionnaire yielded statistically accurate results. Students were scored based on their responses - never, sometimes or often - to such statements as, "At recess I play by myself," "Other students ignore me on purpose," and "Other students leave me out of games on purpose."

Tarshis and Huffman then compared the results to those of other, more complicated surveys intended to identify bullies and victims. They also administered their survey twice to 175 of the students to determine if the results were consistent over time. They found that the responses were highly reliable, and the survey was easily understood and completed by even the youngest students in the sample.

"We found it particularly interesting that these indications of victimization and bullying are apparent at very young ages," said Huffman. "Our hope is that this questionnaire will be utilized by teachers, pediatricians and even child psychiatrists to identify those children needing early and direct intervention."

The stakes are high. Previous research has shown that, without intervention, bullying behavior persists over time: a child who is a bully in kindergarten is often a bully in elementary school, high school and beyond. Such behaviors are not without consequence, though. These career bullies are not only slightly more likely than their peers to serve prison time as adults, they also tend to suffer from depression.

Perhaps not surprisingly, kids who are routinely victimized exhibit higher levels of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts than do non-victims. Such statistics highlight the importance of being able to identify at-risk kids and assess the effectiveness of interventions.

Efforts to stop school bullying have been gathering steam for several years. Those most likely to be effective, according to Tarshis, promote an attitude change from the principal to the recess monitors to the parents. They range from presentations to entire schools to discussions with individual students about how to respond when they are bullied or when they see someone bullying another student.

"Positive peer pressure is an important component of effective intervention," said Tarshis. "When uninvolved students step up and let the perpetrator know that their behavior is not acceptable, it's a powerful message."

The study was sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

Bullying in Elementary & Middle Schools

Bullying, How to Talk to Your Child

Elementary school is an exciting time for children and parents. Going off to school, making friends, participating in activities?there?s a lot happening! As children interact with each other, they develop important social skills. Learning how to interact positively with peers and other people takes practice. On the other hand, some youth try to look tough, be a big shot, or hurt other kids.

Children need to learn that bullying is not okay.


Bullying Affects All Middle School Kids

Many adults know that middle school is a time of change but they may not

understand the full extent of the many challenges kids face. Many middle school

kids experience confusion between the desire to be accepted, which is strongest in middle school, at the same time that:

• Kids report more bullying than students in grades 9 and 10.¹
  
  
• Almost 9 out of 10 kids say they?ve seen someone being bullied.²
  
  
• For every 25 middle school kids, an average of 2 kids are harassed daily and another 2 to 3 are bullied weekly.³
• Modern technology has added new ways to bully ? cyberbullying.
  
  
• During this transition from childhood to adolescence, middle schoolers begin
• to place more importance on making friends and being part of a group. They also start to check out how other kids act, look, sound, and dress.
• Some kids may seem to be searching for a reason to tease or torment
• another student.
  
  
• Alone or as part of a group, youth can take part in bullying. In a growing number of incidences, the term "bully" includes the children who watch the bullying occur ? even if they don?t actively participate. Witnessing bullying behavior can be defined as condoning it.

According to a KidsHealth KidsPoll of more than 1,200 boys and girls aged 9 to 13,
for every 100 kids, an average of:

• Eight are bullied every day.
• Seven are bullied every week, but not every day.
• Some 33 are bullied once in a while, but not every week.
• 73 percent say bullying is un-cool or very un-cool.
• 41 percent of kids who have seen someone bullied say or do something
• to try and stop it.
• 23 percent also tell someone they think could help.

What Is Bullying?

Bullying is a form of abuse, harassment, violence, and/or manipulation that harms
or frightens other youth. Children act like bullies in several ways?usually when
 one or more kids uses threats, violence, or intimidation to negatively affect
someone else. In addition to physical harassment, bullying happens when one kid
or a bunch of kids are really mean to someone just to hurt her feelings, laugh at
her, show dislike, or prove that one child isn?t as good as the others.

Are There Different Kinds of Bullying?

Yes. Bullying can be physical or verbal as well as indirect or direct. According to
 the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:

Indirect bullying ? being excluded from a group, being ridiculed and kept from
 making friends?can be just as painful. Some examples of indirect bullying are avoiding a certain kid and spreading rumors. These kinds of actions may not be against the rules but can be very hurtful.

Direct physical bullying involves hitting, kicking, taking money, pushing, or
 tripping. Verbal abuse can be obvious or subtle, such as insults, offensive and sneering comments, name calling, tone of voice, or even a roll of the eyes.

Teasing someone who clearly shows signs of distress is also bullying. Children can focus on any aspect of another youth?being the new child in a class, having a disability, or not having adequate money for clothing or school supplies?or any
other excuse they can think of. While teasing between friends is usually gentle or funny, mean teasing focuses on making one person feel bad. For example, calling
 an overweight student ?Slim? points out a physical difference and attempts to
 make the student feel ashamed and ridiculed.

Group bullying is when a few children get together and one (or more of them)
picks on someone else. Even though the other kids may not actively participate in
 the bullying, by not stopping it or walking away, they consent and condone it. By passively participating in the bullying, the bullying can escalate and add hurt and frustration to the child being victimized.

When other kids don?t stop the bully or walk away, it may seem as if they
approve of what?s happening.

Where Do Kids Bully?

Most bullying happens at school (40 to 75%) ? in the hallways, bathrooms, cafeterias, playgrounds, and classroom. Some bullying also happens on the way to
or from school, such as on the sidewalks or on the bus. Middle school students
often switch classrooms, which provides more opportunities for bullies to pick on
kids in the hallway. Bullying also can happen on the way to or from school,
including on the bus.

Bullying not only harms the child being bullied, but also harms the child who
bullies and the kids who watch.


Who Bullies the Most?

Boys are generally bullied by other boys while girls are bullied by both boys and
 girls.

Girls bully, too.
Yes, girls participate in bullying, too. Sometimes they use physical violence, but mostly they use social pressure to exclude or hurt other girls. For example,
ignoring a certain girl, never sitting near her at lunch or playing with her at recess,
 or excluding her from party invitations are considered to be forms of bullying.
Girls are more likely to use indirect methods of bullying ? like a roll of the eyes, a mocking tone of voice, and sarcasm. Gossiping and spreading harmful rumors is a form of bullying and can damage someone?s reputation. Even though social
pressure isn?t physical, like tripping or taking someone?s lunch money, it can
 still be very painful.

What Are Signs of Being Bullied?

The best way to know what?s going on in your child?s life ? at school, after
school, during practice, or while hanging out with friends ? is to be involved.
Create a daily routine in which you and your child chat casually about his day.
Take the time to listen, ask questions, and respond.

• Acting depressed.
  
  
• Withdrawing socially.
  
  
• Complaining frequently of illnesses.
  
  
• Not wanting to go to school or avoiding certain classes.
  
  
• Stating that she feels picked on or persecuted.
  
  
• Displaying mood swings, including frequent crying.
  
  
• Talking about running away.
  
  
• Attempting to take protection to school, such as a stick, rock, or knife.
  
  
• Comes home with torn, dirty, or wet clothes or damaged books, or ?loses? things without being able to give a proper explanation of what happened
  
  
• Has bruises, cuts, scratches, and injuries that can?t be explained
  
  
• Chooses an ?illogical? route to and from school
  
  
• Seems unhappy, downhearted, depressed, or has mood swings with sudden outbursts of irritation or anger
  
  
• Steals or asks for extra money to bribe or soften up the bully.

What If Your Child Is Being Bullied?

Bullying is serious ? treat it that way. The best way to know what?s going on
 in your child?s life ? at school, after school, during practice, or while hanging out with friends?is to be involved. Ask lots of questions and listen to their answers.

Support your child. If your child reports feeling bullied, don?t laugh, shrug it off,
 or explain that it?s "just the age." Be prepared to speak to teachers, coaches,
and other adults in charge because they may not have noticed the behavior. A
 parent may ask for a meeting to discuss what is happening. Parents also can
develop relationships with parents of other children in the same neighborhood or school. When several parents know about the bullying, or have children who are affected, they may be in a better position to deal with school staff members.

Try and create a daily routine where your child tells you about his day. Take the
time to listen and respond.

If your child reports feeling bullied, don?t laugh or shrug it away or explain
that it?s "just the age." Bullying is serious ? treat it that way. Be prepared to
speak to teachers, coaches, and other adults in charge because they may not
 have noticed the behavior. One possible solution is to have a meeting to discuss
what is happening.

Why Do Kids Bully?

Children act like bullies for many reasons. Some youth bully because that?s the
 way people act in their family. Some kids bully because they want attention or to
 feel cool. Other children who are insecure give others a hard time because they
like the feeling of power and control. Some simply feel that they are better than
other kids. Others may want to retaliate if they?ve been bullied by someone else.

According to youth, the most important reasons for bullying are that they think it
will make them popular (35 percent) and to get their own way or push others
around (32 percent).

Children who bully often are impulsive, easily frustrated, have difficulty following rules, and lack empathy or being able to understand how others feel. Boys who
 bully often are physically stronger than other children. Participating in bullying is
 not just "a regular part of growing up" ? it?s serious. When a child begins bullying
 at a young age, he is demonstrating unacceptable behavior that can continue for a lifetime.

What Can Parents and Caregivers Do If Their Child Bullies?

Lots of elementary school children are bossy, rowdy, or tease their friends. These actions can escalate into meaner behavior. But has your child?s behavior crossed the line into bullying? Bullying not only harms the child being bullied, it also harms the child who bullies as well as the kids who watch.

Participating in bullying is not just a regular part of growing up ? it?s serious. When a child begins bullying at a young age, he is demonstrating unacceptable behavior that can continue for a lifetime.

Of boys and girls aged 9 to 13:

• 26 percent bully others every day.
• 22 percent bully others once in a while.
• 20 percent join in when they see someone else being bullied.
• 16 percent do nothing when they see someone else being bullied.
• 5 percent bully others every week

Having a Bully-Free Family

How can you stop a child?s bullying behavior? Good question. One way to start is to examine the dynamics of your own family. Is it possible that the child is copying behavior he?s seen modeled? What are your family?s rules about how to talk to each other? Let your children know what?s okay and what?s not okay. Every child needs to learn the importance of treating other people with respect. Make sure your children understand that it?s not right to take advantage or hurt someone just because they feel as if they can.

Humor is a great element to include in your family?s conversations, just make sure to keep it positive. Playful teasing is normal ? usually it?s something funny between two people who already know each other. For example, if your child finishes everything on his plate at dinner and his grandparent says, ?I guess you weren?t very hungry,? that would be gentle teasing. In contrast, mean teasing is hurtful and is intended to hurt the person?s feelings.

If a child?s behavior seems like bullying to you, it probably is. Parents need to set limits and show what acceptable behavior is. After all, bullying can even happen in the home. If parents ignore behavior they don?t like, they are accepting it. Do not ignore this behavior or hope he?ll grow out of it. Bullying is not something that is likely to disappear. Bullying hurts everybody!


Bully-Free at Home

Every child needs to learn the importance of treating others with respect.

Middle school often is seen as the growing-up years between elementary school and high school, when kids are starting to mature but still can tease their friends and be bossy or rowdy. Be watchful so these actions do not escalate into meaner behavior.

If a child?s behavior seems like bullying to you, it probably is. Do not ignore this behavior or hope the child will change. Bullying is not something that is likely to disappear. How can you stop a child?s bullying behavior? Let your children know what?s okay and what?s not.

Make sure your child understands that it?s not right to take advantage of or hurt someone just because he feels he can.

Even with the increasing importance of friends in a young person?s life, peers do not replace parents. Parents and caregivers can talk to youngsters and teach them not to take part in bullying ? and that watching is condoning bullying behavior. Discuss different ways that your child can be of help or get help. Bullying hurts everybody!


Conversation Starters for elementary schoolers

• Who do you hang out with at school? At the playground? During recess?
• How do your friends treat other kids?
• What?s it like in the halls and on the bus?
• What makes it okay to make fun of the child everybody picks on?
• Do you think some kids deserve a hard time?
• How do you feel when you see somebody being bullied?

Conversation Starters for middle schoolers

• Whom do you sit with at lunchtime?
• How do you feel when you hear kids putting each other down?
• Have you ever gotten a mean e-mail or an insult on IM?
• Do you ever see someone picking on another kid? How? What happens?
• Whom could you get to help a kid who is being bullied? How? What happens to a student who helps or gets help for someone being bullied?
• When you get angry with someone, what do you do? If someone gets mad at you, how does that person act?

Continue reading about bullying with more articles located at
www.myparentime.com

Achieve Emotional Availability with Your Child

Backpacks and Bullies: Is Your Child Prepared?

Back to School Safety: Bullying Among Children and Youth

Bringing the Lessons Home

Bully Advice for Kids

Bully Advice for Parents and Teachers

Bullying Among Children and Youth

Empowering Kids to Deal with Bullies and Low Self-Esteem

Children and Anger: Anger Management Strategies for Kids

Guide to Safe Schools

How to Prevent Your Child from Becoming a Statistic

Little Red Schoolhouse or School of Hard Knocks? Making Sense of the Bully Phenomenon

Stop Bullying: Let's Start a Revolution!

The Aftermath of Bullying

Things to Remember About Bullies

Why Our Kids' Live in a Troubled World