Bullying

Bullying has become a tidal wave of epic proportions. Although bullying was once considered a rite of passage, parents, educators, and community leaders now see bullying as a devastating form of abuse that can have long-term effects on youthful victims, robbing them of self-esteem, isolating them from their peers, causing them to drop out of school, and even prompting health problems and suicide.

A recent study by the Family and Work Institute reported that one-third of youth are bullied at least once a month, while others say six out of 10 American teens witness bullying at least once a day. Witnessing bullying can be harmful, too, as it may make the witness feel helpless - or that he or she is the next target.

Children who are bullied are often singled out because of a perceived difference between them and others, whether because of appearance (size, weight, or clothes), intellect, or, increasingly, ethnic or religious affiliation and sexual orientation.

And bullying can be a gateway behavior, teaching the perpetrator that threats and aggression are acceptable even in adulthood.  In one study by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, nearly 60 percent of boys whom researchers classified as bullies in grades six to nine were convicted of at least one crime by the age of 24, while 40 percent had three or more convictions.

Information about Bullying

What Parents Can Do
Advice for parents and adults dealing with bullying

Teaching Kids About Bullying
Information and lesson plans adults can use to teach kids about bullying

Girls and Bullying
Tips for parents on dealing with the problem of bullying between girls

Advice for Kids
Advice for kids on McGruff.org

Strategies
Techniques that adults can use to reduce bullying

Training on Bullying

Bullying and Intimidation
Professional training from NCPC for youth and adults on managing bullying situations

What Every Officer and Department Needs for Dealing with Youth: A webinar to train law enforcement on how to interact with youth and deal with issues of bullying. Experts in the field will discuss how the teenage brain develops and how it manages their perception of authority figures, successful programs and best practices for dealing with youth, and the overall perception of law enforcement. Click here to listen.
Hosted by:  Lisa Thurau, Strategies for Youth, Inc., Chief Paul MacMillan, MBTA Transit Police Department, and Commissioner Robert Haas, Cambridge Police Department

Publications and Products on Bullying

Positive Change Through Policy
This online guide features examples of policies that create safer communities

Helping Kids Handle Conflict
This book is a guide for teaching children non-violent ways to settle arguments, deal with bullies, and avoid fights

Programs on Bullying

Be Safe and Sound in School
The Be Safe and Sound in School program aims to improve the safety and security of our nation’s schools by mobilizing parents, school administrators, elected officials, policymakers, and students to take action on the issue of school safety and security.

Downloadable Resources on Bullying