Advice For Parents

What is bullying?

Bullying can mean many different things. Bullying can take many forms, but its aim is always to make a person feel upset, intimidated or afraid.

These are some ways children and young people have described bullying:

being called names
being teased
being pushed or pulled about
being hit or attacked
having your bag and other possessions taken and thrown around
having rumours spread about you
being ignored and left out
being forced to hand over money or possessions.

Children get bullied

at school – in the playground, in class or in the toilets
on their way to and from school
on the bus

What does it feel like to be bullied?

Bullying hurts. It makes you scared and upset. It can make you so worried that you can’t work well at school. Some children have told us they have skipped school to get away from it. It can make you feel that you are no good, that there is something wrong with you. Bullies can make you feel that it’s your fault.

Why do some people bully?

There are a lot of reasons why some people bully. They may see it as a way of being popular, or making themselves look tough and in charge.

Some bullies do it to get attention or things, or to make other people afraid of them. Others might be jealous of the person they are bullying. They may be being bullied themselves.

Some bullies may not even understand how wrong their behaviour is and how it makes the person being bullied feel.

Why are some young people bullied?

Some young people are bullied for no particular reason, but sometimes it’s because they are different in some way – perhaps it’s the way they talk, their size or their name.

Sometimes young people are bullied because they look like they won’t stand up for themselves.

Some research…

Boys were found to engage in three times as much bullying as girls. Research found that the popular belief that bullies have underlying insecurity and anxiety is NOT true. In fact, bullies have a low level of anxiety. The typical bully has “an aggressive personality pattern” combined, at least in boys, with physical strength.

The factors which were found to help create an aggressive personality problem were found to be: negative emotional attitudes of the primary caretaker characterized by lack of warmth, permissiveness by the primary caretaker for the child’s aggressive behaviour, use of ‘power-assertive’ child rearing methods such as physical punishment and the child’s temperament.

Signs of bullying

As an adult, what are the signs I should look out for? One of the most terrible effects of bullying is that the victim will very often deny that it’s happening.

It’s important that you don’t put even more pressure on a child who may be bullied. Forcing someone to tell when they don’t want to can itself be a form of bullying. But there are certain signs to look out for if you have suspicions.

These can include:

A change in behaviour, such as suffering a lack of concentration and/or becoming withdrawn, excessively clingy, depressed, fearful, emotionally up and down
Afraid and anxious when going to or coming from school
Happy at the weekend but not during the week. A drop in performance in school.
Physical signs: stomach aches, headaches, sleep difficulties, bedwetting, bruising
Bingeing on food
Unexplained bruises
School performance steadily getting worse
Being generally nervous, tense, unhappy
Not explaining suspicious incidents
Signs of being isolated from others of the same age
Signs of regular interference with personal property, books, etc.
Frequently asking for (or perhaps stealing) money.

Although these can also indicate problems other than bullying, it’s important that you don’t ignore them. Try to encourage the child to talk about what’s going on, either to you or to another trusted adult.

How to approach the subject

Broach the subject obliquely, giving the victim the option to talk about it or not
Let them know that you are willing to listen at any time
When they start to talk, listen carefully to what they have to say
Once they begin to discuss the bullying, it may seem to be all they can talk about. Be patient and let them go on – it’s better for them to let it all out than to bottle it up

What to do next

Don’t over-react – victims need rational advice and help, not emotional overload
Believe the victim. No one should have to put up with bullying
Ask victims if they have any suggestions about changing the situation
Contact the school as soon as you’re satisfied that the allegation is well founded
Seek advice from an individual or a support group with experience in this area

If you’re being bullied what can you do?

Always remember – It’s not your fault! It’s the bully who has the problem, not you. Don’t put up with bullying. Ask for help.

Believe in yourself. Don’t believe what the bully says of you. You know that’s not true
Say ‘no’ emphatically, then walk away
Check out your body language. Practise walking with confidence, standing straight with head held high and taking deep breaths
Practice assertiveness. Stand tall, look the bully in the eye, breathe steadily, speak calmly and firmly. This can help you to feel stronger, and also makes you look more confident
Don’t suffer in silence – talk to someone you trust. It always helps to share a problem and to know that you are not alone. In schools and clubs, adults in charge have to pay attention to any complaints you make about being bullied
If an adult is bullying you, then look for help from another adult you can trust. You have rights, and you must insist on them. There are rules and procedures to deal with adult bullies at home, in school, in sport clubs and where people work. If you are too nervous, take along a friend
Choose when to resist. Sometimes the only sensible thing to do is to give in. Just get away and tell someone
Try not to use violence. It never solves anything, and usually just makes the situation worse
Keep a diary. Keep a record of details – who, where, when, how – as this will make it easier for you when you tell your story
Have an answer ready. Well chosen words can often make a bully look foolish, and that’s the last thing they want!
Try not to show you are upset or angry (even if you are). Reacting to the bully is only giving them what they want
If there’s a gang involved try to approach each person on their own, rather than when they’re together. If you talk straight to them, you’ll probably find that they’re not so confident without the protection of the group
Ask your friends to support you. Bullies don’t like being outnumbered or isolated
Try to make new friends if the ones you have at the moment seem to enjoy trying to make you feel bad
Change your routine. Try to avoid being on your own in places where you are likely to be picked on

Are you a bully?

Have you ever hurt someone on purpose?
Have you ever used your size or strength to win against someone weaker?
Do you repeat rumours, even if you’re not sure they’re true?
Have you ever tried to turn your friends against someone?
Have you ever watched others bullying someone without doing anything to stop it?
Have you ever used the excuse “I was only messing” when you knew you weren’t “only messing”?

If answering these questions made you feel uneasy, maybe you should look at the way you treat other people.

Talking to someone always helps.

Choose a trusted friend or maybe one of the organisations listed in this booklet.

Remember that bullying is always wrong – feeling good shouldn’t mean having to make someone else feel bad.

What should I do if my child is being bullied?

Discuss bullying openly and regularly
Thank the child for disclosing the problem
Listen carefully
Get all the details
Write down the details
Take action
Make appropriate changes
Seek professional help if necessary
Bring your information to the relevant authority
Discuss bullying openly and regularly with your children – don’t wait for them to raise the issue
Thank the child for disclosing the problem. Confidence is the first casualty of bullying, so let your child know you believe them and will support them Tell them it’s not their fault
Listen carefully. Don’t rush the story. Show you are concerned and sympathetic
Get all the details – what, who, when, where, etc
Write down the details and check the information with your child. This will be important with your child. This will be important for any meetings which may come later
Take action. Don’t wait to see if it all blows over
Make appropriate changes that may help prevent your child being singled out and to build their confidence at the same time (e.g. new clothes, different hairstyle, etc.)
Seek professional help if necessary (e.g. speech therapy, dental work, etc.)
Bring your information to the relevant authority, and insist on getting an adequate response

How do I approach the School?

Make an appointment indicating the reason for the meeting
Speak to the appropriate teacher as soon as possible
Don’t exaggerate. Be honest and stick to the facts as you understand them
Use your notes to make sure you don’t forget to mention any important points
Recognise that you may be upset when you speak to the teacher
Accept that your child may not have told you all the facts, and that there may be another side to the story
Ask for a copy of the school’s policy on bullying
Find out what action the school intends to take
Arrange for a follow-up meeting with the teacher to measure any improvement in the situation
After the meeting, you may wish to make a note of what was agreed and send a copy to the teacher
If you are not happy with the teacher’s response, make an appointment to see the principal
If you still feel dissatisfied having talked to the principal, contact the Board of Management in writing

How can I tell if my child is a bully?

Here are some indicators of bullying behaviour:

a tendency to bully family members
being a victim of bullying
regularly witnessing bullying behaviour in their environment
being frequently short-tempered and/or aggressive
having past experiences which can still cause negative feelings
bringing home items that you know weren’t bought
speaking of others in a negative way, perhaps on the basis of their appearance or beliefs of social status
showing an interest in violent behaviour
showing little sensitivity towards others
having low self esteem
being the subject of previous complaints or suggestions of bullying behaviour

Directory of Support Services

Anti-Bullying Centre (01) 6082573

CAB – Campaign Against Bullying (01) 2887976

Childline Freephone 1800 666660

Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (01) 2300061

ISPCC (01) 6794944

The National Association for Parents Support (NAPS) (0502) 20598

Parentline (Parents under Stress) (01) 8733500

Samaritans (Callsave) 1850 609090

Sticks and Stones Theatre Company (01) 2807065

Trinity College Dublin – Anti-Bullying Research Centre (01) 6601011

Victim Support 1800 661771

Some Useful Websites

Bullying @ school information – www.scre.ac.uk/bully

Bullying information on Bully/Parents/Teachers – www.lfcc.on.ca/bully

Bullying in schools- www.ericeece.org/pubs/digests/1997/banks97

What Parents should know about Bullying – www.accesseric.org/resources/parent/bully

Appendix

ABC Bullying at School, the Anti-Bullying Research & Resource Centre Trinity College, Dublin

You Can Beat Bullying – A Guide for Young People, Kidscape

The abc of Bullying Marie Murray & Colm Keane, 1998 – Mercier Press

What do you know about Bullying? Pete Sanders, 2000 – Aladdin Books Ltd.

Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace, Lucy Costigan, 1998 – Columba Press

Bullying – Don’t let them suffer in silence, Save the Children (Resource Pack)