BOSTON -- With kids back in school, bullying prevention is front and center.

There are warning signs that your child could be a victim of bullying, or perhaps even be the bully, said child psychiatrist Michael Jellinek.

Jellinek says most of the time, bullying is part of growing up.

"If you go to an elementary school playground, there are kids that are rough housing, play-acting, copying super-heroes, and bullying," said Jellinek, the chief of Child Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital.

"I hear the notion of no tolerance for bullying. I don't think that's reasonable. I think that's just part of some of the kids' development. It is also reasonable to think that our children will have to learn to stand up to a certain kind of bullying, normally," he said.

Jellinek said since most bullying gets handled between kids, parents should simply monitor at first.

But if the problem persists, and the bullying extends to a broad group of peers, it could be serious and parents should reflect on behaviors.

"Are they coming home day after day complaining of it? Are they being rejected by their former friends? Do they feel isolated? Are they not being invited to participate in after school activities or play dates or clubs? Are there any indications that the bullying is happening on the computer, either through Facebook or text messaging?" said Jellinek.

Those situations should prompt parents to take action, said Jellinek. In those cases, they should talk to school official or other parents in the child's social circle.

But a parent might also suspect their child is, in fact, the bully.

"You ought to take a step back and get information from relatives and siblings to double-check your assumptions," said Jellinek.

"Bullies at home will continue that behavior. They may be bullies to their siblings. As they become teens, they might get into fights with their parents at home. So if it's more severe, you may want to consult with a pediatrician or a mental health referral," he said.

Jellinek said most bullying and victimization is routine and only a small percentage lead to severe problems, that often begin at home.

"The leading cause of a bully is someone who was bullied at home. The leading cause of a victim is someone who has been a victim at home," said Jellinek.

Resources:

U.S. Health & Human Services

National Mental Health Information Center

Centers For Disease Control

Center For Safe and Responsible Internet Use