Bullying Resources for Parents

Bullying: Resources for Parents


Bullying is a common experience for children. It can have serious consequences for both victim and bully. What does a parent need to know?  Are you up on the latest research about bullying in childhood and adolescence? Do you have the information you need to talk with parents or decision-makers in your community about effective responses?

Bullying is a common experience for children and teens. Traditionally, adults have thought of bullying as physically or verbally aggressive behavior that children will grow out of. The modern reality, however, is more complex.

Bullying behavior includes actions meant to intimidate, stigmatize, or socially isolate its victims. It is not just a phase children will outgrow. Bullying has long-term effects. It puts both the victim and the bully at higher risk for social and emotional problems and academic failure.

As recent tragic events in the news have shown, bullying has gone digital. About one-third of all teenagers who use the internet say they have been targets of some type of cyberbullying  (Pew Internet & American Life Project). The most common form of cyberbullying is when private information is made public. The instant, “viral” nature of today’s social networking technologies increases the dangers of cyberbullying.

Parents can find out more about bullying and cyberbullying and how to respond by going to one or more of the links provided below.

Cyberbullying

The Children, Youth, and Family Education and Research Network provides links to resources on cyberbullying and sexting, what parents and educators need to know, and what they can do to help young people in their families, schools and communities.

Teens and Internet Safety. Describes internet risks, including cyberbullying, and outlines ways to protect youth from harm.

Bullying among School-Aged Children
How Parents and Teachers Can Address Bullying with Youth. Describes what bullying is, who is affected, and what can be done by parents and educators.

Tips for Parents: Dealing with the School Bully. Describes how to know if your child is being bullied and what to do about it.

Children and Bullying: A Guide for Parents. Describes the interactions of bullies and children who are bullied (across various ages) and how parents can respond.

Bullying: It’s Not Child’s Play. Describes bullying, the warning signs of a child who is bullied or who bullies others, and how parents can respond.

Tackling the Bullying Issue. Describes the signs of the child who is the bully and the victim, as well as the role of “bystander” children who do not participate but can be affected by witnessing bullying.

Bullying among Adolescents
Bullying. Describes different forms of bullying in adolescence, including cyberbullying and emotional bullying.
Adolescent Bullying. Describes the characteristics of bullies and victims in comparison to non-bullying teens.

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