Home About Us Programs Donate Contact

Addressing Bullying Behavior Through

the

Art of Puppetry

DEFINITION

Bullying is aggressive behavior that involves unwanted, negative actions. Bullying often involves a pattern of behavior repeated over time.  Bullying involves an imbalance of power or strength.

This definition includes three important components:

• Bullying is aggressive behavior that involves unwanted, negative actions
• Bullying involves a pattern of behavior repeated over time
• Bullying involves an imbalance of power or strength

TYPES of BULLYING

  Bullying can take on many forms:

• Verbal Bullying - including derogatory comments and bad names
• Relational Bullying - this is through social exclusion or isolation
• Physical Bullying - such as hitting, kicking, shoving, and spitting
• Bullying through lies and false rumors
• Having money or other things taken or damaged by those who bully
• Intimidation which is is being threatened or being forced to do things by those who bully
• Racial Bullying
• Cyber Bullying - via cell phone or Internet

Bullying  Myths

• Myth: Bullying is a normal part of childhood and you should just ignore it.
• Myth: It is okay to hit someone who is bullying you, it will stop it.
• Myth: Bullies are born this way, it is in their genes.
• Myth: Bullying only happens in schools.
• Myth: You can spot a bully from the way they look and act.

In spite of the significant impact that bullying can have on a target, our society often views it as acceptable behavior.  There are many misconceptions that characterize bullying, all of which can lead to minimizing the behavior.

Bullying Facts

• Ignoring Bullying will make it go away

         Fact:  This solution sounds easy, but ignoring the problem will not

                  make bullying go away.  In fact it often makes the situation

                  worse, because it sends the message that the target is

                  unable to do anything about the behavior and gives the

  bully emotional satisfaction.

• Children and youth who bully are mostly loners with few social skills

Fact:  Children who bully usually do not lack friends.   In fact, some                   research finds that these children have lager friendship

         networks than other children.

• Bullied Kids need to learn to deal with bullying on their own

        Fact: Some children have the confidence and skills to stop bullying,                  but many do not.  Bullying is a form of victimization and peer                   abuse.  Just as society doesn’t expect this of other forms of

                abuse, it should not be expected with Bullying.

• It’s okay for bullied kids to fight back

        Fact:  If your child is being bullied you should discourage them from                  fighting back.  If your child fights back, the bullying will likely             become much worse, and the school may see your child as                   part of the problem.

• Bulling  is the same as arguing

        Fact: Bullying is not arguing.  Arguing is conflict and conflict is a                  disagreement where both sides express their views.  Bullying                   is the intention to hurt someone else.  A power imbalance is a                 trademark of bullying.

• Cyber-bullying starts in middle school

        Fact:  Cyber-bullying can begin as soon as kids have access to a cell                  phone, a tablet device, or a computer through texting or                          gaming.  For many kids, cyber-bullying starts long before

 they are able  to use social networking sites like Facebook

 or Instagram.

• Cyber-bullying is less harmful because it does not happen face to face.

        Fact:  Cyber-bullying can be harmful because it is public it spreads                  quickly, and it’s accessible 24/7.

Definitions BIO Products