Assessing Bullying: A Guide for Out-of-School Time Program Practitioners and Assessing Peer Conflict
Aggressive Behaviors: A Guide for Out-of-School Time Program Practitioners
Child Trends
These reports on bullying and peer conflicts conclude that while it is absolutely normal for youth to experience such events, steps must be taken to assess these situations carefully, because a child can be severely harmed emotionally, physically and psychologically. It is important for parents to be able to identify extreme cases of bullying and conflict so that positive techniques can be promoted for resolving problems.
Bullying and peer conflict can involve physical violence, isolation, name-calling, rumors and using the Internet to send or post hurtful messages. Victims are usually adolescents who are viewed as physically weaker, have small networks of friends, are possibly homosexual or are obese or overweight. Those who bully others tend to have social and emotional adjustment problems, experience social isolation and achieve poor grades.
Physical injuries, sleeping problems, disinterest in going to school or attending a program and overall nervousness and anxiety are signs that a child may be getting bullied or experiencing aggressive behaviors. A number of measures should be taken, including talking to the involved youth and letting the youth know there are people who care for and are concerned about him or her, encouraging participation in leadership activities, getting the youth involved in a peer mediation program and notifying parents and guardians of his or her behaviors.
The reports include questions for assessing the prevalence of peer conflicts and bullying. Assessing Bullying: free, six pages. http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2009_10_29_RB_AssessingBullying.pdf.
Assessing Conflict: free, seven pages. http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2009_10_29_RB_AssessingPeer.pdf.
