They rarely defend themselves nor do they retaliate when confronted by students who bully them. Victims tend to be close to their parents and may have parents who can be described as overprotective. The major defining physical characteristic of victims is that they tend to be physically weaker than their peers. Young children who are unable to stand up for themselves are easy targets for aggressive playmates. These children inadvertently reward bullies by giving in to them, and risk further victimization.
Victims often fear school, which they consider to be an unsafe and unhappy place.
Bullied students can become socially isolated because their peers do not want to lose status by associating with them. Being bullied can lead to depression and low self-esteem, problems that they can carry into adulthood. Tips for Helping Children Deal with Bullies Kids may be afraid or ashamed to tell adults about a bully. Some parents don't intervene because they think kids should work it out on their own. It's important for them to let someone know early, before the situation escalates.