There is no single reason why some children become bullies, and others are bullied by them. Children who are aggressive are more likely to become bullies. Often they have seen, or been a victim of, violence at home. Typically, they pick on children who appear different in some way those who are quiet, shy, alone at playtime and unable to defend themselves. Children who stammer, who have a disability or who have special educational needs are also more likely to be bullied.
Schools vary in how much bullying there is and how they deal with it.
Some schools have a clear policy on bullying. They make sure that all teachers, parents, and children know about it. Schools that have these policies, and who take every incident of bullying seriously, tend to have less bullying. Being bullied can seriously affect a child s physical and mental health. They will often suffer in silence.