1. Tell them to stop.
- Be confident and believe in yourself. Speak with authority. Let them know that the behavior is not appreciated.
2. Avoid the bully.
- When possible, avoid places that bullies tend to congregate.
- Use the buddy system.
3. Walk away.
- Don’t let them get to you! If you can, walk away from them. Don’t let them have the satisfaction of picking on you!
4. Protect yourself.
- Violence is never advocated, but, sometimes they won’t let you walk away. If you are being physically hurt, defend yourself and get away.
5. Talk to a trusted adult.
- Talking to a trusted adult can help you figure out ways to solve the problem.
6. Document the incident.
- As soon as you can, write down the details surrounding the incident. Where was it? What did they do? When did it happen? Who was involved? Who did you notify?
7. Report the incident.
- You need to let a parent know about the bullying. If the incident happened on school property or school functions, notify your teacher and principal as well.
What can you do if you see someone being bullied?
Stand up! Bystanders have the power to drastically reduce the incidents of bullying in their schools! Bystanders are important because
- Bullying most often happens in front of other kids
- Bullying rarely happens when adults are watching
- Bullies like an audience and want their approval. If those watching disapprove, bullies can be discouraged from continuing
Remember, if you see someone being bullied, you have the power to stop it!
- Take a stand and do not join in.
- Support the person that is being bullied.
- Talk to a trusted adult about the incident.
You will be a hero to the person that you helped and, you just may meet a new a best friend!
Be a leader! Help support anti-bullying efforts in your school and community. Younger kids look up to older kids. Help teach them that bullying is not OK and stop bullying before it begins. Download the free Youth Leader Toolkit.
