October is National Bullying Prevention Month

What is Bullying?

Stopbullying.gov defines bullying as “Unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time”

It describes 3 types of bullying

1. Verbal Bullying – including name-calling, teasing, inappropriate comments, or threatening to cause harm.

2. Social Bullying – causing harm to someone’s reputation or relationships including spreading rumors, purposeful embarrassment, and intentional harm or harassment.

3. Physical Bullying – causing intentional physical harm to someone’s body or property/physical belongings. Can include pinching, pushing, punching, kicking, etc.

Signs of Bullying:

Stay alert to spot the signs potentially associated with bullying. Look out for:

• Changes in sleep or eating patterns

• Emotional outbursts or mood swings

• Withdrawn behavior

• Claims of sickness in the mornings

• Frequently ‘looses’ money

• Returns home with missing or damaged belongings

• Lack of desire to go to school

• School grades begin to fall

To learn more about signs that may be associated with bullying check out the National Centre Against Bullying.

What is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is any act of bullying typically social or verbal that is conducted online via direct message or social media. Cyberbullying typically involves the repeated harmful use of electronics, like computers and cell phones to elicit or imply some type of power imbalance.

To learn more about cyberbullying read more from the Cyberbullying Research Center.

What Can You Do to Help?

Parents, Teachers, and other Mentors can act as ally, explore anti-bullying tactics, promote a

positive culture, and maintain open lines of communication about bullying and cyberbullying.

To learn more about anti-bullying tactics check out this resource page by Smart Social.

Advice for Kids:

Here are some tips for Kids Health for ways kids can improve a situation where bullying is involved:

• Avoid the bully and use the buddy system

• Hold the anger, try to remain calm and don’t react

• Act brave, walk away, and ignore the bully

• Tell an adult

• Talk about it

Resources:

National Bullying Prevention Month:

https://www.adl.org/resources/tools-and-strategies/national-bullying-prevention-

month#:~:text=October%20is%20National%20Bullying%20Prevention%20Month

What is Bullying:

https://www.stopbullying.gov/bullying/what-is-bullying

Signs of Bullying:

https://www.ncab.org.au/bullying-advice/bullying-for-parents/signs-of-bullying/

What is Cyberbullying: https://cyberbullying.org/what-is-cyberbullying

Kids Health – Helping Kids Deal with Bullies: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/bullies.html

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Olivia is a Doctor of Physical Therapy Student at Hanover College and President of her class. She currently lives in New Mexico but frequently travels and loves to go on hikes with her dog.

Skyrocket Pediatric Therapy Foundation (Skyrocket) does not provide medical or legal advice or services. Skyrocket provides general information about developmental disabilities and developmental therapies as a service to the community. The information provided on our website is not a recommendation, referral or endorsement of any resource, therapeutic method, or service provider and does not replace the advice of medical, legal or educational professionals. Skyrocket has not validated and is not responsible for any information, events, or services provided by third parties. The views and opinions expressed in blogs on our website do not necessarily reflect the views of Skyrocket.