Bullying is a wilful, conscious desire to hurt, threaten or frighten person.

Who gets bullied?

There is no stereotype for the victims of bullying. Children may be bullied for lots of reasons.

Other children may be jealous of them because they are popular or good at sport or because they are different. Whatever the reason bullying is totally unacceptable.

Children are often bullied by a persistent and powerful individual or by a group. This makes it hard to stand up for themselves.

Who Bullies?

Children who bully often have high energy levels and good verbal skills, able to talk themselves out of trouble.

They enjoy conflict and aggression and enjoy getting their own way.

They appear popular but are often disliked.

How to tell if your child’s being bullied?

Your child always loved school. Now, they complain about not wanting to go – chances are your child is being bullied.

Some of the warning signs may include:

• your child becomes withdrawn, has outbursts and get weepy.
• your child complains of headaches and stomach pains
• your child may have trouble concentrating at school and their marks may drop

What parents can do to help

• encourage your child to talk to you. They may be too frightened to tell or to “dob in” the bully
• get them to talk to their teacher or talk to the teacher yourself.
• ask your child’s teacher or the school principal about the technical programs the school runs to deal with bullying