Help our kids thrive and cut out bullying!
What Is Bullying?
Verbal
Verbal bullying includes any sort of teasing, taunting, name calling, or threatening by way of speech or written word.
Physical
Physical bullying includes undesired and/or violent contact. Examples include hitting, kicking, punching, pushing, tripping, and spitting upon others.
Relational
Relational bullying is an attack on someone’s character or reputation. This includes spreading rumors, sharing embarrassing pictures or information, teasing, and purposeful exclusion.
Cyber
Cyberbullying is verbal and relational bullying that does not occur in person, but over the internet, social media, and texting. It includes teasing, taunting, name calling, threats, spreading rumors, sharing unauthorized images or information, teasing, and purposeful exclusion.
Sexual
Sexual bullying is a type of bullying and harassment that occurs in connection with a person’s sex, body, or sexual orientation, or with sexual activity. It can be physical, verbal, or emotional.
Children and youth with disabilities
What can be done?
As a Parent:
There is a lot you can do as a parent to prevent bullying from happening to your child or to prevent your child from becoming a bully.
- Talk about bullying — what it is, why it’s wrong, what to do.
- Teach them to avoid being alone in places where adult supervision is limited.
- Explain how to use the internet and social media in a responsible way.
- Supervise activities online.
- Set clear rules regarding consequences for inapproriate use of technology and inappropriate behavior. Follow through.
- Reinforce positive behavior.
- Make sure your child’s school has a bullying prevention program.
- If your child is a victim of bullying, get help. You can speak to the school district, the Department of Education (DOE), the Department of Justice (DOJ), or an attorney. It may also be helpful to have your child speak to a mental health provider.
- Help your children understand the needs and challenges of those with special health care needs and how their words can be especially hurtful.
- Educate yourself on the long-term mental and physical health impacts of bullying.
As a Leader:
Being a leader means setting a good example. Whether you are an educator, an administrator, or a student, there are ways to prevent bullying from occurring.
- Talk about bullying and how to be a friend.
- Start a bullying-prevention pledge.
- Provide supervision when and where it is necessary.
- Report bullying.
- Encourage acceptance.
- Reinforce positive behavior.
- Advocate for policies that support bullying prevention for children with and without special health care needs.
- Educate yourself on the long-term mental and physical health impacts of bullying.
As a Friend:
It can be difficult to stand up to bullying, but it is better to do what is right, rather than what is easy. Here are some ideas for how to prevent your friends from being bullied or becoming bullies themselves.
- Avoid being alone or letting your friends be alone in settings where there is no supervision (in school bathrooms, for example).
- Do not respond to bullies. Ignore them.
- Speak to someone you trust if you are being bullied or see someone being bullied.
- Educate yourself on the various types of bullying and how you should react to each of them.
- Have open and honest discussions with your friends about bullying and the part you all play in bullying prevention.
- Seek out groups and clubs that promote acceptance of all students and surround yourself with positivity.
- Be sensitive to victims of bullying who have special health care needs.
Need Assistance?
If you or someone you know is thinking about self-harm or hurting others, please call Delaware’s Lifeline by dialing 1-800-262-9800 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 1-800-273-8255.
Additional Resources
Below are resources and outside services that can help.
Delaware’s Contact Lifeline
If someone is hurting you, reach out to lifeline crisis responder services. They respond anonymously and confidentially to human needs, statewide, 24 hours a day.
Teens Health
Healthy relationships are all about respect and trust. But how do you recognize an abusive relationship? Know the signs.
Department of Education (DOE) School Climate and Discipline Office
Assistance provided to all Delaware public schools in their efforts to provide every student with a safe, secure, and supportive learning environment as it relates to best practices, school safety, bullying, and student conduct and discipline.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Bullying Hotline
If you, your child, or someone you know is experiencing bullying, please call the Delaware Bullying Hotline at 1-800-220-5414.
2015 Update on Implementation by Delaware Public Schools of the State’s 2012 Anti-Bullying Laws
New laws about bullying in schools include a cyberbullying definition and policies regarding punishment outside school walls, as well as a mandate to report bullying by schools, particularly as it relates to a student targeted for an identifiable reason.
Camp Rehoboth Community Center
A nonprofit community service organization dedicated to creating a positive environment inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities in Rehoboth Beach and its related communities.
Child Inc.
Helping the children and families of Delaware, this private nonprofit organization offers prevention, treatment, emergency shelter, and advocacy services that strengthen families.
Children and Families First
Programs, services, and support proven to prevent, offer intervention for, and heal the immediate and lasting impacts of toxic stress and trauma.
Department of Education (DOE) Model Bully Prevention Policy
A model policy for bullying prevention that is adaptable for your school. It includes current Delaware legal and regulatory requirements.
Equality Delaware
Support for same-sex couples and marriage equality, with opportunities to volunteer as well as resources such as FAQs.
Family SHADE
Family SHADE provides support and services to families of children with special health care needs. They foster empowerment over dependency, as well as equity, equality, and an individually defined quality of life.
Get Right Side Up
Guidance and resources created to help various segments of society understand and deal with young people who may be dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts.
KidsHealth
Nemours Children’s Health website for parents, kids, teens, and educators with valuable, curated information on health topics related to children and adolescents.
Media Time Family Pledge
Suggestions on how to make specific promises about the use of technology via teachable moments throughout the day — includes recommendations for parents and online safety tips for kids.
Mental Health Association in Delaware
The Mental Health Association in Delaware promotes improved mental well-being for all individuals and families in Delaware through education, support, and advocacy.
PFLAG Rehoboth Beach
Struggling to accept your lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or nonbinary child or loved one? PFLAG Rehoboth Beach offers a safe place for people who have questions or would like to share their experiences with others.
United Way of Delaware PRIDE Council
The PRIDE Council’s focus is to organize community resources, including corporate, education, health, government, and religious organizations, to improve the lives of LGBTQ youth and adults in Delaware.
Children’s Safety Network (CSN)
The Children’s Safety Network works with state and local maternal and child health and injury and violence prevention programs to create an environment in which all infants, children, and youth are safe and healthy.
Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
GLSEN works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment.
Healthy Place: America’s Mental Health Channel
The largest consumer mental health site on the internet provides authoritative information and support to people with mental health concerns, along with their family members and other loved ones.
It Gets Better Project
A nonprofit organization with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth around the globe.
Kid Power
The global nonprofit leader in “People Safety” education — an international movement reaching people of all ages, abilities, genders, identities, and walks of life with effective, culturally competent interpersonal and social safety skills.
National Education Association (NEA) Healthy Futures
A special program of the NEA dedicated to empowering educators to champion healthy schools where students, faculty, and staff succeed.
No Bully
An award-winning No Bully program available for schools. Teachers are trained to solve 90% of incidents of bullying and cyberbullying and create a culture where every student belongs.
PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center
Innovative resources for students, parents, educators, and others to prevent childhood bullying, so that all youth are safe and supported in their schools and communities as well as online.
Roots of Empathy
School-based programs designed to reduce aggression; increase sharing, caring, and inclusion; and promote resilience, well-being, and positive mental health.
SAMHSA’s KnowBullying App
An app for parents, caregivers, and educators offering conversation starters, bullying prevention strategies, tips for identifying bullying, and more.
Stopbullying.gov
Parents, school staff, and other adults in the community can help kids prevent bullying by talking about it, building a safe school environment, and creating a community-wide bullying prevention strategy.
Learning for Justice
Learning for Justice seeks to uphold the mission of the Southern Poverty Law Center: to be a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people.
The Fourth R
Promoting healthy youth relationships by building the capacity of schools and communities through innovative programming, research, education, and consultation.
The Trevor Project
Real-time counseling for youth who are struggling, where they can find answers and information, as well as the tools they need for themselves or to help others.
Violence Prevention Works
Leading programs proven to reduce bullying, suicide, and dating violence — available in the form of free, on-demand digital resources and webinars.