As kids, most of us engaged in teasing or playful banter with our friends and siblings at some point; it’s a part of growing up.  But what is a parent to do when their child is on the receiving end of harmful bullying from their classmates? It’s an unfortunate reality in our society, but at some point, every parent will have to address the issue of bullying with his or her child. We’re constantly reminded of this very sensitive issue by the stories of severe bullying throughout the country, and the new film Bully, addresses this issue that affects so many families. See the trailer for the film below:

Kids can be tormented in several different ways, so it’s important for families to be able to recognize the different types of bullying, which can be:

Verbal: Name-calling and teasing.

Social: Spreading rumors, intentionally excluding people and breaking up friendships.

Physical: Hitting, punching, shoving and throwing items at a person.

Cyberbullying: Using the internet, cell phones or other technology to harm others.

Talk with your kids to see if they have experienced or witnessed any of these situations in school or amongst their friends. It's also important to know if they have participated in any form of bullying, as bullying on either end should not be tolerated. Bully's website has a wealth of information on how to combat bullying to help protect your child.

Will you take your kids to see Bully? Have you addressed bullying with your family?

Leave your comments below.

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