Bullying
Being bullied at school can have measurable and lasting effects in adulthood, causing increased levels of loneliness, emotional distress and difficulty forming relationships.
Preventing and tackling bullying is integral to promoting the emotional well-being of children and young people, developing their social and emotional skills and improving the overall ethos of a school.
What is bullying?
Bullying involves a range of behaviours and requires a range of responses, approaches and developments at school, classroom and individual levels.
Common forms of bullying include:
- verbal bullying – name calling, spreading rumours, sarcasm
- emotional bullying – exclusion from the group, ridicule, humiliation, tormenting
- physical violence
- threats
- racism – taunts, gestures
- sexual intimidation – unwanted comments or physical contact.
Those involved in bullying may take on one of the following roles:
- bully – leader and initiator; directly involved in the bullying activity
- assistant – supporting bully; actively involved at instigation of others
- reinforcer – giving positive feedback to those directly involved in bullying, for example as an audience, or by laughing at the victim
- victim – the target of the bullying behaviour
- defender – provides direct or indirect support to the victim; may try to stop the bullying
- outsider – withdraws from bullying situations.
What can families do?
The Anti-bullying Network has some useful advice for parents and families, as follows.
- If a young person in your family is being bullied at school it is vital that you work with his or her teachers to find a solution.
- If you are not happy with a teacher's response, do not give up. Speak to someone else – perhaps another teacher or the headteacher.
- Always discuss things with your child before you take action. If you don't do this you might damage your relationship with the child.
- Do not tell a child being bullied to 'just ignore it'. If that were possible, the child would not be asking you for help.
- Do not tell a bullied child to hit back. If your daughter hits someone who is calling her names, there is a good chance that she will be the one who ends up being punished by the teacher. Instead, discuss other ways in which she could stand up for herself.
Useful resources
Confident Happy Children: advice for parents and carers of primary school children on bullying
This leaflet aims to help parents and carers of primary and pre-school children deal with the issues surrounding bullying. It is part of the 'Let's stop bullying' pack issued to all schools by the Scottish Executive.
Good to know: advice for parents and carers of teenagers on bullying
The 'Good to know' leaflet aims to help parents and carers of teenagers deal with the issues surrounding bullying. It is part of the 'Let's stop bullying' pack issued to all schools by the Scottish Executive.
Useful links
Anti-bullying Network
The Scottish Anti-Bullying Network provides school staff, young people and families with assistance in tackling bullying.
BBC Schools bullying pages
BBC Schools web pages for parents with advice if their child is being bullied or is involved in bullying.
Bullying Online
Internet based charity providing advice for young people and their parents on bullying.
