Warning Signs
What To Do

• In a recent poll at the Utah P.T.A. conference, bullying was listed as the number three concern

• The average elementary class has three children who spend the day in fear of bullying

• By the time students reach high school, up to 80 percent say they've been bullied

• According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, two predictors raise a warning flag about over agressiveness: opposition, (irritable, disobedient, inconsiderate), and hyperactivitiy (fidgety, squirmy). JAMA says a child with both of these characteristics is nine times more likely to be higly agressive.

• Physical bullying--name calling, threats, taunting, hitting, kicking, etc.

• Psychological bullying--rumors, shunning, looks

• A child who suddenly resorts to bullying (teachers who deal with bullies say often a child who is bullied internalizes until they let loose one day and start to bully others. But it's usually this child who ends up getting in trouble).

• Listen to your child

• Report problems and encourage your child to report problems to adults; first teacher, then principal

• If bullying constitutes assault, contact police

• Don't teach "eye for an eye." Parents often teach their children to hit back if someone hits you. Educators recommend more peaceful solutions.