Bullying Starts So Young: What Can We Do As Parents?
In our most recent episode of Whose Kid is That?!? Val shared the story of her 5-year-old, Kindergartener being bullied on the bus. A girl from his class was physically laying hands on him and calling him a “butthole.”
Julie and Val were both surprised to see bullying beginning at such a young age and discussed the topic a bit.
Bullying Statistics
(All stats from the National Bullying Prevention Center)
- One out of every five (20.2%) students report being bullied.
- A slightly higher portion of female than of male students report being bullied at school (24% vs. 17%).
- Bullied students reported that bullying occurred in the following places: the hallway or stairwell at school (43%), inside the classroom (42%), in the cafeteria (27%), outside on school grounds (22%), online or by text (15%), in the bathroom or locker room (12%), and on the school bus (8%).
- 46% of bullied students report notifying an adult at school about the incident.
- The reasons for being bullied reported most often by students include physical appearance, race/ethnicity, gender, disability, religion, and sexual orientation.
Anti-Bullying Resources
- Stop Bullying: This is the official anti-bullying site of the U.S. Government. They offer resources for teachers and parents to help prevent and stop bullying.
- The Bully Project: The Bully Project is a film and activism site with tools for educators, parents, students, advocates, and those interested in helping those with special needs.
- Stomp Out Bullying: Stomp Out Bullying has created a parent resource for parents who learn that their child is being bullied complete with tip sheets, cell phone guides, and help understanding bullying.
