Bullying

Bullying is a problem behavior. It’s based on relationships in which a child uses power to inflict emotional or physical pain to another. Bullying includes not only physical aggression, but also verbal aggression, teasing and taunting, spreading rumors, or rejection and isolating another student.

More than 5.7 million youth in the United States are estimated to be involved in bullying as either a bully, or a target of bullying, or both. Social media intensifies bullying.

If you know or suspect bullying has occurred, open the lines of communication and find out what has happened with your child. Understanding what happened can help in dealing with school or community officials about the situation.