Majority of Kids Call Bullying Major Problem

Seventy-four percent of children surveyed said teasing and bullying occur at their schools.

This excerpt is from an article originated by Reuters.

WASHINGTON -- A lot of U.S. children say bullying, teasing and discrimination are problems, a survey reported Thursday.

Seventy-four percent of children surveyed said teasing and bullying occur at their schools; 51 percent of those ages 8-11 said discrimination is a big problems for kids their age, and 46 percent cited threats of violence.

By coincidence, the survey was released shortly after the latest fatal school shooting in the United States; friends of the 15-year-old suspect say he was frequently bullied at school.

The survey, conducted for the Kaiser Family Foundation, Nickelodeon children's television and Children Now, aimed to show the need for better communication between parents and children.

Most parents have talked with their children in the preteen age group about alcohol and drugs, discrimination and teasing and bullying, the survey found, while fewer have discussed puberty or reproduction.

Even when parents and children talk about these issues, the message does not always get through. From a third to more than half of 8- to 11-year-olds said they did not recall conversations with parents on a particular issue, but parents said the issue had been discussed.

The national survey of 1,249 parents and 823 children ages 8-15 was conducted between Dec. 7 and Jan. 18 by telephone. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 3 percent for parents, plus or minus 4 percent for children.

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