Overview
Bullying is acting in ways that scare or harm another person. Kids who bully usually pick on someone who is weaker or more alone, and they repeat the actions over and over. Bullying can happen at school, on the bus, in the neighborhood, by text, or online. Using technology to bully is called cyberbullying.
The types of bullying include:
- Physical. This can be things like hitting, shoving, or tripping.
- Emotional. This may include making fun of the way a child acts, looks, or talks.
- Social. This can be things like excluding someone from a group, spreading rumors, sending hurtful messages or pictures in texts, emails, or online.
Emotional and social bullying doesn't leave bruises, but the damage is just as real.
Bullying is a serious problem for all children involved. Kids who are bullied are more likely to feel bad about themselves and be depressed. They may have physical symptoms like an upset stomach. And they may fear or lose interest in going to school.
Kids who bully others are more likely to drop out of school, have drug and alcohol problems, and break the law.
If you think your child is being bullied—or is bullying someone else—take action to stop the abuse.
