The everything parent's guide to dealing with bullies: from playground teasing to cyber bullying, all you need to ensure your child's safety and happiness

Content: Introduction --
Chapter 1: What Is Bullying? --
Definition of bullying --
History of bullying --
Facts and statistics --
Common markers of bullying --
Bullying versus normal conflict --
Why most people underestimate the impact of bullying --
Triad: the bully, the bullied, and the bystander --
Chapter 2: Types Of Bullying --
Verbal bullying --
Physical bullying --
Social, relational, and emotional bullying --
Extortion --
Direct bullying versus indirect bullying --
Cyber bullying --
Chapter 3: Types Of Bullies --
Confident --
Social --
Detached --
Hyperactive --
Bullied bully --
Bunch of bullies --
Gang of bullies --
Chapter 4: Bully --
Characteristics of a bully --
Why do some kids bully? --
Bully's role in the triad --
Stereotypical bully --
Common places bullying occurs --
Mean bully --
Meaner bully --
Meanest bully --
Chapter 5: Bullied --
Characteristics of a bullied child --
Bullied child's role in the triad --
Making of a victim: F-E-A-R --
Why me? --
Why victims don't tell --
Victim who also becomes a bully --
Chapter 6: Bystander --
Characteristics of a bystander --
Bystander's role in the triad --
Bystander roles --
Why bystanders don't tell --
Why bystanders aren't innocent --
How bystanders can stop bullying --
Chapter 7: Factors That Lead To Bullying Behavior --
Violence in the family --
Lack of a positive role model --
Violent television --
Violent video games --
Prior victim of a bully --
School failure --
Peer rejection --
School climate --
Chapter 8: Common Bullying Myths --
Myth 1: Bullying is a normal rite of passage --
Myth 2: Kids need to learn to defend themselves --
Myth 3: Children who are bullied always tell an adult --
Myth 4: People are born bullies --
Myth 5: Bullying doesn't happen at my child's school --
Myth 6: Bullies are loners with no social skills --
Myth 7: Bullying is a school problem --
Chapter 9: Warning Signs That Your Child Is Being Bullied --
Physical clues --
Psychological clues --
Educational clues --
Most likely targets --
How to respond (dos and don'ts) --
Steps to take if your child is being bullied --
Chapter 10: Consequences Of Bullying --
Physical --
Emotional --
Educational --
Short-term effects of being bullied --
Long-term effects of being bullied --
How parents can help. Chapter 11: Boy Bullies --
Boys-will-be-boys myth --
Danger of stereotypes --
Physical aggression --
Boys bullying girls --
Why boys bully other boys --
How parents can help --
Chapter 12: Girl Bullies --
Verbal bullying --
When girls get violent --
Group bullying --
Why girls bully other girls --
Good-girl persona --
How parents can help --
Ophelia project --
Chapter 13: How To Bully Proof Your Child --
Teaching social skills --
Ways to improve your child's self-esteem --
Teach your child how to be a friend --
Encourage and foster one good friendship --
Allow your child to join a group --
Enroll your child in a self-defense class --
Teach basic prevention skills --
Chapter 14: Social Skills And Assertiveness Training --
Why your child needs social-skills training --
Most essential social skills for kids --
Body language --
Voice quality --
Conversational skills --
Friendship skills --
Assertiveness skills --
Chapter 15: Parental Responsibility And Why Getting Involved Can Help Enact Change --
Fear of making the situation worse --
Embarrassed by a bullied child --
Kids beg parents not to tell --
Parents fear being seen as overprotective --
Parents want the child to stand up for herself --
Reasons why bullying should always be reported --
What works in bullying prevention? --
Chapter 16: Cyber Bullying --
Types of cyber bullying --
Why cyber bullying has become such a problem --
You can't see me, I can't see you --
Impact of cyber bullying --
Signs of cyber bullying --
Ways to protect your child --
Responding to cyber bullying --
Prevent your child from being a cyber bully --
Chapter 17: What If My Child Is A Bully? --
Signs that your child might be a bully --
Keep an open mind --
Intervention --
Teaching your child friendship and interpersonal skills --
Create more feel-good and do-good opportunities --
Engage in constructive, supervised activities and sports --
Limit exposure to violent media --
Chapter 18: Bullying Among Children With Special Needs --
Are schools protecting your children? --
Is your child vulnerable? --
New threat to kids: food-allergy taunts --
What is disability harassment? --
What you can do if it doesn't stop --
What to do if your child is being bullied --
Is legal action necessary? --
Chapter 19: When Bullying Becomes A Crime --
Do you know the law in your state? --
Directives in bullying laws --
Definition of bodily injury or threat of bodily injury --
Dealing with uncooperative school officials --
Filing a complaint --
Resolution --
Bullying prevention programs --
Chapter 20: Why Zero Tolerance Policies Don't Work --
What is a zero tolerance policy? --
Why zero tolerance actually decreases reports --
Student exclusion policies --
Bullies need intervention and positive role models --
Other misdirected policies --
What policies and programs should be implemented? --
Chapter 21: How Students, Parents, Schools, And Communities Can Work Together --
Identify the extent of the problem --
Create an awareness campaign --
Implement educational programs --
Start a peer-counseling program --
Specify classroom rules --
Practice cooperative learning activities --
Increase supervision in high-risk areas --
Whole-school policies --
Appendix A: Glossary --
Appendix B: Resources --
Appendix C: Existing anti-bullying education and prevention programs --
Appendix D: Anti-bully pledge for use in the classroom --
Index.