Strong people don't put others down. They lift them up.
You Can Conquer Bullying
If you are a youth tormented by a bully at school or in your neighborhood, you probably feel your life cannot get any worse. Also, as a parent or grandparent, you may struggle with the emotion of trying to help the youth you love. This pamphlet will give you ideas and techniques to help conquer bullying.
Bullying takes many forms from issues on the playground or in hallways, to nasty rumors, physical or verbal abuse, exclusion, or the ever increasing cyberbullying. Youth may also have friends or acquaintances who tease, make jokes and who think they are funny, but are really bullies. These issues can have lifelong detrimental and emotional effects. This booklet will give youth in middle and high school years specific skills to conquer bullying. Also, many of these techniques may be helpful for adults in everyday life or in the world of work.
Definition
Bullying is a form of emotional or physical abuse that has three defining characteristics:
Deliberate: An individual is being intentionally targeted.
Repeated: It is repeated unwanted aggressive behavior.
Power Imbalance: The bully chooses a person who is perceived as vulnerable.
Research shows:
Approximately 30 percent of students experience bullying on a regular basis.
Students in grades 6-10 seem to be the most targeted but, of course, any student can be bullied.
Verbal and cyberbullying seem to be the most pervasive form of bullying. This can target race, sexual orientation, weight, and dress, to name a few.
Some research indicates that approximately 160,000 students throughout the country stay home from school on any given day because of bullying.
Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among youth- there are many reasons, but bullying can be one.
Warning signs of being bullied for youth:
-Feeling of sadness, anxiety, or depression
-Changes in friends, loss of friends
-Problems with eating and sleeping
-Reluctance to join in activities, or dropping out of activities
-A decline in school achievement
-Headaches or stomachaches
Pay attention to signs like these. They may indicate what's happening in the life of the youth. Tell them that you are here to help.
Modes of communication:
Many youth have a predominant mode of communication: Aggressive, Submissive, or Assertive. Helping youth develop assertiveness is a critical skill in conquering bullying.
What does an Assertive youth look like:
- Acts with confidence
-Looks directly at the person
-Speaks with a strong voice
-Remains calm - anger distorts the message
-Shows respect and kindness to other people
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Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace.
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Be a W.I.N.N.E.R. Conquer Bullying
Non-FictionThis article will help youth and parents conquer bullying. There are 7 specific techniques which can be used depending upon the situation. Ideas for parents and grandparents to help youth in this area.
