Barcroft Bullying Prevention Program

Scarlett WilliamsDecember 7, 2010

Bullying Behaviors

Physically Hurting or Threatening to Hurt Someone

Social Exclusion Insults Name-Calling Mean Gossip or Rumors Sexual Bullying Cyber Bullying

Bullying Imbalance of

Power

Facts - Statistically Speaking 10% to 20% of school-age children are

chronic targets of bullying. Teachers noticed and intervened in only 1 out of 25 episodes of bullying.

Both girls and boys bully. Boys usually bully with physical aggression, girls with social alienation or humiliation.

Bullies are not anxious, insecure children, but have positive (often unrealistic) self images that reflect a strong need to dominate.

Effects of Bullying on Children

Children who are bullied tend to:

Experience further rejection from peers. Have lower self esteem than other children. Feel more lonely, anxious, and insecure. Avoid and dislike school.

Effects of Bullying on Children

As children who bully grow up, they tend to:

Commit more crimes Commit more driving offenses Receive more court convictions Report higher incidents of alcoholism Experience more antisocial personality

disorders Use more mental health systems And commit more spousal abuse

Than their non-aggressive counter parts.

Barcroft Bullying SurveyGrades 2-5 - 193 Students

2009-2010 2008-2009 Have you been called mean names, made fun

of, or teased in a hurtful way in the last couple of months?

Yes 43% 60% I have been left out of things on purpose,

excluded from a group of friends, or completely ignored by other children

Yes 36% 60% I was hit, kicked, shoved around.

Yes 27% 39% I told an adult that I was being bullied at

school. Yes 38% 38%

Bullying Survey

Have you been bullied

On the playground yes 65 56 In the hallway yes 37 27 In class with your teacher in the room yes 42 31 In the bathroom yes 14 20 In the lunch room yes 32 25 At the bus stop yes 12 11 Walking to/from school yes 13 6 On the bus yes 17 7 Other :_________________ yes 15 22

Barcroft Bullying Survey I called another student mean names, made

fun of, or teased him or her in a hurtful way.Yes 15% 25%

I kept him or her out of things on purpose, excluded him or her from my group of friends or completely ignored him or her.

Yes 13% 17% I hit, kicked, and shove d him or her around.

Yes 1% 14% I would help someone who was being called

mean names, made fun of, or being teased?

Yes 100% 99%

The Bullying Circle

Bully

Henchman

Bystander Bystander

Bystander

PossibleDefender

Defender of the victim

Victim/Person being

Bullied

Bullying Intervention

Stop the bullying. Separate the students.

To the student who has been bullied: Support in a way that allows him/her

regain self control and “save face”

To the Bully: Name the bullying behavior and refer to

the school rules against bullying.

Bullying Intervention (cont’d)

Impose immediate and appropriate consequences

Let student know you will be watching to make sure there is no retaliation

To the bystanders: Empower with information about how to act

in the future

Have counselor follow up with “coaching conversation” with Bully and Person being Bullied

Barcroft Rules Against Bullying

1. We will not bully others.2. We will try to help students who

are bullied.3. We will include students who are

easily left out.4. When we know that someone is

being bullied, we will tell an adult at school or at home.

Prevention/ Intervention Plan

De-Bug system (Self Assertiveness Skills)

Talk It Out (Self Soothing & Conflict Resolution Skills)

Be Your Best (Social Skills on the Morning Broadcast)

Class meetings

Prevention Plan

Increased adult supervision

Consequences for bullying

Report bullying situations to counselor/administrator for follow up.

Barcroft Bullying Prevention

When adults within a school are committed to preventing bullying behavior, requesting adult intervention will help in equalizing the power imbalance between bully and victim.

When bullies are confronted with a united front of their peers who are supportive of the victim, the bully’s power is defused. Peer disapproval is very helpful in stopping the control one bully has over his/her peers.

The De-Bug System

1. Ignore2. Say “Stop It.” Calmly3. Say “Stop It.” Firmly4. Walk Away5. Tell an Adult* If you feel unsafe immediately tell an adult

Talk It Out and Cool Off

Take a Deep

Breathe

Ask for Help

Laugh it off.

Forget about it.

Walk Away

Count to Ten

COOL OFF

What is the problem?How can you solve the problem?

Use Humor

Say “I am sorry.”

Take Turns

Postpone

“We can talk about this

later.”

Share

Use an I message.

When you __.I feel ___.I want ___.

Compromise

Give a little to get a little.

Help your Child to be Assertive Tell them to Stop Tell a friend Tell an adult Walk Away If other kids are nearby join them

so you are not alone “I” message, “When you… I feel….

I want…”

Teach through conversation and example

As soon as children begin to interact with others, we can begin to teach them not to be bullies and not to be bullied.

Give them words for their feelings Limit and change their behavior Teach them better ways to express

their feelings and wishes Children do not learn to solve these

kinds of problems and get along by themselves. We need to teach them.

Examples "She's not my friend and she can't come to

my party." "You don't have to be friends with her

today, but it's not all right to make her feel bad by telling her she can't come to your party."

“Sara isn’t cool enough to be in our group.” "It's not all right to treat other people this

way. How do you think she feels being told she can't play with you?”

If your child bullies others Your first response will probably be

defensive. Take a deep breathe and really listen. Bullying and aggressive behavior

usually mask feelings of vulnerability. Look for what is going on in your child's

interactions with others and what is going on internally, causing your child to behave that way.

Talking to your child about Bullying

Bullying is not acceptable in our family or in society.

Provide appropriate ways to express frustration and anger.

Role-play, act out the new behaviors. Ask, “How can I help you with this? Who could

you go to in school if you see yourself getting into this type of situation again?

Specify the consequences if the aggression or bullying continue.

The goal is to stop the behavior, understand your child's feelings, then teach and reward more appropriate behavior.