Computer With

October is bullying prevention month around the U.S. In 2006 the PACER center for children with disabilities pushed for the first week of October to be named as National Bullying Prevention week. In 2010 it was expanded to the whole month of October.

Bullying can take many forms, from harassment and ridicule to physical attacks. Bullying occurs online, at schools, and in neighborhoods. Some children and teens are bullied so relentlessly that they develop fear of attending school or fear of large crowds. Others suffer silently with knowing how to escape from their bullies, or how to stand up against them.

Nearly every student in school encounters bullies at some point, but usually only a few are targeted relentlessly. Bullies tend to choose certain victims that they persistently attack, while leaving the majority of others alone. Victims are usually quiet, reserved, and physically unimposing. Bullies usually choose their victims based on how easy it will be to hurt them and how unlikely they are to fight back or go to an authority.

What do you think? Have you ever been bullied, or bullied someone else? How do you think teens and children can prevent bullying?