Advice for Parent & Carers

Firstly what is bullying?

It is the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power.

Bullying is not 'falling out with a friend'

because children don't 'plan' to fall out with their friends, it's accidental and the situation is of equal power as both contribute to the argument.

Bullying is one-sided as it happens to the person, so the person doing the bullying gets a feeling of power.

There are four main types of bullying behaviour, here is a list with some examples (it is worth noting that there are many examples in each category)

Verbal Bullying- using your voice to say unkind words eg call names, spreading rumours
Physical Bullying- using your body to hurt another deliberately e.g. hitting, pushing, spitting, pinching
Indirect Bullying- emotional harm e.g. leaving someone out, ignoring, talking behind someone's back, ganging up
Cyber or Online Bullying- being unkind using electronic devices. e.g. spreading rumours , threatening or saying hurtful things on social media

The Anti-Bullying Alliance has a fantastic parent/carer tool for further information.

You can help prevent bullying if you:

Talk to your children about how they treat others who are younger or less able or different from themselves.
•Encourage your children to think about how others feel, tell them that they can help stop bullying by befriending and supporting children who are less able to cope with teasing.
•Bullying behaviour can happen at any age – check your own actions, lead by example – think before you tease those who perhaps are not as strong as you.

Signposts to great advice websites;