What is Bullying?

Bullying is not easy to define. Sometimes it involves hitting or kicking. But threats, teasing, and taunting are more common and can be more damaging.

The word 'bullying' is used to describe many different types of behaviour ranging from teasing or deliberately leaving an individual out of a social gathering or ignoring them, to serious assaults and abuse. Sometimes it is an individual who is doing the bullying and sometimes it is a group.

The important thing is not the action but the effect on the victim. No-one should ever underestimate the fear that a bullied child feels.

POSSIBLE DEFINATION OF BULLYING

Bullying happens when one person or a group of people tries to upset another person by saying nasty or hurtful things to him or her again and again. Sometimes bullies hit or kick people or force them to hand over money; sometimes they tease them again and again. The person who is being bullied finds it difficult to stop this happening and is worried that it will happen again. It may not be bullying when two people of roughly the same strength have a fight or disagreement.

This advice sums up the most important actions to take:

If someone in your family is being bullied at school - you have to do something to help: you must talk to a teacher.

If you are worried that someone in your family may be bullied - discuss this with a teacher.

If you want to help rid schools of bullying - work with the teachers to make schools safer and happier.

If you are not satisfied with the school's response, do not give up - other sources of help are available.

Support and understanding at home are important in helping people to cope with bullying - do all you can to help children and young people value themselves.

Children and young people who witness or become aware of bullying may be unsure what to do and whether they should tell someone. Make sure they know that they should talk to a parent or teacher, and why.

The key messages to get across to the person being bullied are:

It's not your fault that you are being bullied.

You don't have to face this on your own.