Bullying
Bullying is a relationship problem. It is the assertion of interpersonal power through aggression. Bullying involves
- repeated and consistent negative actions against another
- an imbalance of power between the bully and the target
- contrasting feelings between the bully and the target as a result of the bullying episode (the child who bullies may feel excited, powerful or amused, while the target feels afraid, embarrassed or hurt).
The four most common types of bullying are:
- Verbal Bullying—name calling, sarcasm, teasing,spreading rumours, threatening, making references to one's culture, ethnicity, race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, unwanted comments.
- Social Bullying—mobbing, scapegoating, excluding others from a group, humiliating others, gestures or graffiti intended to put others down.
- Physical Bullying—hitting, poking, pinching, chasing, shoving, coercing, destroying, unwanted sexual touching.
- Cyber Bullying—using the internet or text messaging to intimidate, put down or spread rumours about someone.
Alberta's Bullying Prevention Strategy
A provincial bullying prevention strategy was developed in response to feedback provided at the May 2004 Alberta Roundtable on Family Violence and Bullying. Through the joint efforts of Alberta Education and Alberta Children's Services, three websites have been developed to help children, youth and adults learn about bullying and deal with bullying issues.
www.teamheroes.ca
Aimed at children 3-11 years of age, the S-Team Heroes help kids learn about bullying prevention and intervention through this interactive online game.
www.b-free.ca
Intended for youth 12-17 years of age, this site features interactive components and information about how youth can take a stand against bullying in their community.
www.bullyfreealberta.ca
This website is an online resource for parents and other adults who are looking for more information on bullying prevention. It includes information on all types of bullying – social, verbal, physical and cyber – as well as fact sheets for parents, children, and youth.
1-888-456-2323
A 24-hour helpline, operated by trained counsellors, provides information on bullying prevention and intervention, referrals to local counselling, and bullying prevention services.
More information on the prevention of bullying and family violence is available on the Alberta Children's Services website
