Bullying is a form of aggression where one or more children harass or intimidate another child repeatedly. It occurs without a reasonable cause and includes senseless or uncalled-for actions toward another person. Sometimes it originates from personal characteristics, e.g., race, religion, physical attributes, socioeconomic status, physical or mental ability.
Boy Bully
Boys and girls tend to approach bullying differently. Boys often bully using the following aggressive tactics:
- Physical contact, e.g., tripping someone, a quick blow or a knee to the stomach,
- Verbal aggression often accompanies physical bullying, and
- Threats, e.g., I’m gonna get you!
Girl Bully
Boys typically participate in direct or physical bullying. Whereas girls can be more manipulative and resort to indirect bullying. Girls are more likely to bully using the following tactics:
- Social alienation,
- Exclusion from groups,
- Humiliation, and
- Social rejection.
Bullying verses Teasing
Teasing is making fun of or bothering another child. If a child calls your child dumb, that is not bullying but it is certainly rude! It is important to distinguish between bullying and teasing. When a child is bullied, she will feel threatened or powerless. Bullying doesn’t happen just one time but rather on many occasions.
My daughter came home very upset one day and proceeded to tell me she was bullied. Of course, I was shocked but as it turns out she was being teased – two children on the bus decided to make her feel uncomfortable. If this occurred repeatedly it would qualify as bullying. The table below further distinguishes between someone joking around (although I was raised there is no such thing as a joke) and bullying.
| Mean Teasing / Bullying | Kidding Around / Playing Joke |
| Unwanted | Wanted |
| One-sided | Two-sided |
| Feels Uncomfortable | Feels Good |
| Embarrassing / humiliating | Enjoyable |
| Use of power | Equal parts |
It is also important to discuss with your child the difference between tattling (getting another child in trouble) and telling an adult when someone is bullying or doing something dangerous. Openly talk to your child about bullying and teasing.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tLXGoauwp6KZwKitzJ5lnKedZK%2B2uMuyoKefX5fCrbjYoqWgZw%3D%3D