What bullying is With all the focus that has surrounded teenage gangs and gun violence, it may be easy to forget that the teenage years are not the only times that children face violent behavior. Some studies suggest that around 20 percent of all American children have been the victim of bullying at some point in elementary school, and about the same number have described themselves as engaging in some form of bullying behavior. Bullying can range from teasing, to stealing lunch money, to a group of students physically abusing a classmate. The goal is to actually gain control over another child through physical or verbal aggression. Usually bullies make their attack without any real reason, other than they see their victim as an easy target.
Bullies are usually more popular with their peers than children who are simply aggressive.
What bullying can look like in elementary school Being a victim is the most common in second grade, and the likelihood of being bullied decreases each year after that. Bullies in elementary school are more likely to pick on children younger than themselves. Bullying is often very physical in nature, with open attacks of aggression being the most common. Boys are more likely to be doing the bullying, but girls and boys are equally likely to be victims. What bullying can look like in junior high school Bullies in junior high school are more likely to pick on people their same age, with boys more likely to be both bullies and victims.