1. Bullying October is Bullying prevention month Orange is the color
Wednesday 24 is the day, wear orange

2. Who we are: Amber Knight, MSW, LSW Beverly Owusu, BSW, LSW
WRJH School Social Worker
Beverly Owusu, BSW, LSW
Reynoldsburg Middle/Junior High School Prevention Specialist
Kendra Ward, BS, RA
Livingston High School Prevention Specialist
Elayna Drake, MSW, LISW
Summit High School Prevention Specialist
Introductions

3. Agenda What is Bullying? Types of Bullying Kids’ Roles in Bullying
Verbal
Physical
Social
Cyber
Kids’ Roles in Bullying
Warning Signs
Effects of Bullying
How can I help?
Resources
We are going to be discussing what bully is
The different types you can see
The effects of bullying
What you can do to help your student
Some resources

4. What is Bullying?
What do you think it is?

5. What is Bullying?
Unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children
An Imbalance of Power
Repetition
Threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, or excluding someone from a group on purpose
During or after school hours
Most is reported in the school
Other common areas bullying is reported
On the playground
On the bus
Travelling to or from school
In the neighborhood
On the Internet
Unwanted, aggressive behavior among students in school. This isn’t light teasing or joking…something that hurts both the student who bullies and the student who is being bullied
It involves these different aspects: threats, rumors, physical or verbal attack (written), or excluding others on purpose
Happens in these different places…not just in the school building

6. What is Bullying? Imbalance of Power Repetition Real or perceived
Physical strength
Access to embarrassing information
Popularity
Happen more than once OR
Have the potential to happen more than once
To be classified as bullying, there needs to be an imbalance of power and repetition. This is something that separates this from teasing

7. 21% of students ages 12-18 experienced bullying
National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics
School Crime Supplement Survey (2015)

8. Types of Bullying

9. Verbal Teasing Name-calling Inappropriate sexual comments Taunting
Threatening to cause harm
Saying or writing mean things

10. Physical Hitting/kicking/pinching Spitting Tripping/pushing
Taking or breaking someone’s things
Making mean or rude hand gestures
Hurting a person’s body or possessions

11. Social Leaving someone out on purpose
Telling other children not to be friends with someone
Spreading rumors about someone
Embarrassing someone in public
Sometimes referred to as relational bullying
Involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships

12. Cyber Social media (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter)
Text Messages (SMS)
Instant Message (apps, social media messaging features)
Bullying that takes place on cell phones, computers, tablets
This can impact online reputation that can be accessed by schools, employters,colleges, clubs, and other people that may research individual now or in the future
Can hurt the reputation of those bullying, being bullied, and those who participate in this.

13. Cyber Special Concerns Persistent Permanent Hard to Notice
They can continuously communicate 24 hours a day, hard for kids to find relief
Permanent and public if not reported and removed (impact on reputation online, college, employment)
Teachers and parents may not overhear or see cyberbullying take places so it can be hard to notice

14. Kids’ Roles in Bullying

15. Kids’ Roles in Bullying
Kids who Bully
Kids who are Bullied
Kids who Witness
Assist
Reinforce
Outsiders
Defenders
Assist: encourage and may take part in bullying even though they might not be the main force
Reinforce: not directly involved, but give the bullying an audience. Laugh or provide support for the children bullying
Outsiders: remain separate from the bullying situation. May watch, but don’t show sides. Often want to help but don’t know how
Defenders: comfort the child who is bullied and may come to their help

17. Children at risk of being bullied
Perceived as different from their peers
underweight, overweight, wear glasses or different clothing, are new to a school
LGBTQ youth*
Youth with special needs*
Youth with different races or religions*
Perceived as weak or unable to defend themselves
Depressed, anxious, or have low self esteem
Less popular than others and have few friends
Don’t get along well with others, seen as annoying, or try to get attention from others
*Special laws as these often are civil rights issues

18. Children at risk of bullying others
Well-connected to peers
Have social power
Are overly concerned about their popularity
Like to dominate or be in charge of others
More isolated to their peers
May be depressed or anxious
Have low self-esteem
Be less involved in school
Be easily pressured by peers
Don’t identify with the emotions or feelings of others

19. Children at risk of bullying others
Easily Frustrated
Aggressive
Less parental involvement or have issues at home
Think badly of others
Have difficulty following rules
View violence in a positive way
Have friends who bully others

20. Warning Signs
Many warning signs that indicate that someone is being affected by bullying (either being bullied or bullying others)
Recognizing warning signs is an important first step to take action
Not all kids that are being bullied or bullying others ask for help
Talk to your children if you see any of these signs because it could also point to other issues like depression or ssubstance abuse issues

21. Signs a child is being bullied
Unexplainable injuries
Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry
Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick, faking illness
Changes in eating habits, like skipping meals or binge eating
Coming home from school hungry because they skip lunch
Difficult sleeping or frequent nightmares
Declining grades, loss of interest in school work, not wanting to go to school,
Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations
Feelings of helplessness or decreased self-esteem
Self-destructive behaviors such as running away from home, harming themselves, or talking about suicide
Look for changes in the child. However, not all children being bullied show warning signs
If someone is in serious distress or danger, don’t ignore the problem. Get help right away

22. Signs a child is bullying others
Getting into physical or verbal fights
Having friends who bully others
Increasingly aggressive
Getting sent to the principal’s office or detention frequently
Having unexplained money or new belongings
Blaming others for their problems
Not accepting responsibility for their actions
Worrying about their reputation or popularity and are competitive

23. Effects of Bullying
Bullying effects every student involved: those who bully, are bullied, and are witnesses. Impacts mental health, substance use, and suicide.

24. Effects on Kids who are Bullied
Depression and anxiety
Feelings of sadness and loneliness
Changes in sleep and eating patterns
Health complaints
Academic problems
More likely to miss, skip, or drop out of school

25. Effects on Kids who Bully Others
Abuse alcohol or other drugs in adolescence or adulthood
Get into fights, vandalize property, and drop out of school
Engage in early sexual activity
Have criminal convictions and traffic citations as adults
Be abusive towards romantic partners, spouses, or children as adults

26. Effects on Kids who are Bystanders
Have increased use of tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs
Have increased mental health problems
Miss or skip school

27. How can I help?

28. Stay away from labels Bully Victim Bully/Victim Child who bullied
Child who was bullied
Bully/Victim
Child who was both bullied and bullied others
“Victim” and “Bully” send the message that behavior can’t change
Fails to recognize that many roles are played
Disregards other factors, like peer influence or School climate

29. If you witness bullying
Intervene immediately. It is ok to get another adult to help.
Separate the kids involved.
Make sure everyone is safe.
Meet any immediate medical or mental health needs.
Stay calm. Reassure the kids involved, including bystanders.
Model respectful behavior when you intervene.

30. Avoid these mistakes….
Don’t ignore it. Don’t think kids can work it out without adult help.
Don’t immediately try to sort out the facts.
Don’t force other kids to say publicly what they saw.
Don’t question the children involved in front of other kids.
Don’t talk to the kids involved together, only separately.
Don’t make the kids involved apologize or patch up relations on the spot.

31. Seek immediate help if….
A weapon is involved.
There are threats of serious physical injury.
There are threats of hate-motivated violence, such as racism or homophobia.
There is serious bodily harm.
There is sexual abuse.
Anyone is accused of an illegal act, such as robbery or extortion— using force to get money, property, or services.

32. Cyberbullying
Try to ignore the people bullying

33. Take the Child’s lead! Offer support
Be prepared to look “not cool” so that your child can keep their reputation
Don’t be afraid to block
Set limits and monitor computer use

34. Resources