Bullying

“When I came in to school every day, I knew I was going to get teased. Each word they said was like a little knife sticking into my heart. It felt like I was breaking into little pieces.”

Judd
Boys on Bullying

One in seven children is either a bully or a victim of bullying.1 Bullying is more prevalent than ever with e-mail, instant messaging, and cell phones. Whether a child is called names, threatened, or the target of rumors – face to face or in cyberspace – bullying can have devastating effects.

Katti was in middle school when a group of girls turned on her. “My stomach hurt to think that I had to go to school and deal with these people,” she says.

Judd kept quiet about harassment from classmates about his weight. They called him “Tubbo” and “Fatso.” Finally his dad realized Judd was suffering. “My dad helped me understand that sometimes people put others down to build themselves up,” Judd says. Together, they worked out ways to turn the situation around. It took a while, but the bullying stopped.

Bullied boys and girls may feel isolated and depressed. They may use sex or drugs to escape emotional pain. Or they may act out violently. When you know the signs of bullying, you can take steps to address it early and help to prevent its long-lasting effects.

Remember: Adults who were bullied as teens have higher levels of depression and lower self-esteem than other adults.2

Read Issues and Answers at wordscanwork.com for more about this topic.

1. National Association of School Psychologists
2. Flannery, D. J., & Singer, M. I.

© 2006 Blake Works, Inc.

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