Bullying and cyberbullying

Bullying can happen anywhere – at school, at home or online. It’s usually repeated over a long period of time and can hurt a child both physically and emotionally.

If you think your child or a child you know is being bullied it is important to take immediate action. Bullying can happen at any time and to any child.

Bullying is a frightening experience. It can isolate and damage a child or young person's self-confidence. Ongoing bullying can have a serious, long-term impact on a child's wellbeing, and can lead to depression and even suicidal thoughts and actions.

Bullying can include:

• Persistently calling hateful or hurtful names
• Making things up to get children into trouble
• Hitting, pinching, biting, pushing and shoving
• Spreading rumours, for example, on social networking sites like 'Facebook' (Cyberbullying)
• Threatening, tormenting or intimidating children
• Making silent or abusive phone calls

Bullies who continually harm other children are likely to be experiencing difficulties of their own.

• Bullying behaviour is unacceptable
• Bullying can happen to any child at any age
• Act immediately if you think your child is being bullied
• Children need ways to protect themselves and seek help
• Advise your child to run, yell and tell

Cyberbullying
Bullying online is known as cyberbullying. Because children and young people spend a lot of time online and may face risks such as cyberbullying or being exposed to inappropriate content. See more information about online safety on the keeping safe online page and visit CEOP's Think You Know parents' pages