October is National Bullying Prevention Month

What is Bullying for Kids at MPS

Madison Primary strives for our school to be a nurturing place where students learn, play and grow together without the fear of bullying. Therefore,  students are taught that we are all part of our school community in which we respect and celebrate the similarities and differences among us. Students are also explicitly  taught what bullying is, three different types of bullying, and strategies to deal with bullying in a kid-friendly and developmentally appropriate way. 

Students learn that being bullied and bullying others is not acceptable at MPS. Our primary school students are taught that bullying is defined as when someone hurts others on purpose over and over again. The following three types of bullying are also taught:

•  Muscle Bullying (Physical) is when someone uses their body to hurt others on purpose by hitting, kicking, and/or pushing.

• Mouth Bullying (Verbal) is when someone uses their words to hurt others on purpose by calling names, taunting, and/or threatening.

• Friend Snatcher Bullying (Social) is when someone hurts the friendships of others on purpose by excluding or getting a friend or group to "turn" on another student.

PACER'S National Bullying Prevention Center - What is Bullying for Kids

PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center - Conflict vs. Bullying for Kids

PACER'S National Bullying Prevention Center - Click Conflict vs Bullying for Parents 

If I suspect my child is being bullied, how do I respond?

The following  Facts for Families© information sheet is developed, owned and distributed by AACAP. Hard copies of Facts sheets may be reproduced for personal or educational use without written permission, but cannot be included in material presented for sale or profit. All Facts can be viewed and printed from the AACAP website (www.aacap.org). 

"If you suspect your child may be the victim of bullying ask him or her to tell you what's going on. You can help by providing lots of opportunities to talk with you in an open and honest way. 

It's also important to respond in a positive and accepting manner. Let your child know it's not his or her fault, and that he or she did the right thing by telling you. If your child is aware of someone who is being bullied, encourage him or her to notify someone and get help.  Other specific suggestions include the following: 

• Ask your child what he or she thinks should be done. What's already been tried? What worked and what didn't?

• Seek help from your child's teacher or the school guidance counselor. Most bullying occurs on playgrounds, in lunchrooms, and bathrooms, on school buses or in unsupervised halls. Ask the school administrators to find out about programs other schools and communities have used to help combat bullying, such as peer mediation, conflict resolution, and anger management training, and increased adult supervision.

• Don't encourage your child to fight back. Instead, suggest that he or she try walking away to avoid the bully, or that they seek help from a teacher, coach, or other adult.

• Help your child practice what to say to the bully so he or she will be prepared the next time.

• Help your child practice being assertive. The simple act of insisting that the bully leave him alone may have a surprising effect. Explain to your child that the bully's true goal is to get a response.

• Encourage your child to be with friends when traveling back and forth from school, during shopping trips, or on other outings. Bullies are less likely to pick on a child in a group."

 All Facts can be viewed and printed from the AACAP website (www.aacap.org). 

Copyright © 2020 by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry - Facts for Families

Stopbullying.gov - How to Prevent Bullying

PACER'S - Tattling vs. Reporting Parents 

Madison County Brochure