Don’t Stand by for Bullying!

Why do People Bully?  They think they can get away with it  The bullies also think bullying shows that they are in charge of others  The bullies also might have been bullied before and now they want to be the bully

What to do when someone else is being bullied  Make sure you don’t join in on bullying situations.  You can tell the victim to walk away.  Be strong. Bullies usually are mean to people that they think are weak, so it will help if you act strong.  You can tell the bully to stop.

Don't bully back  Don't hit, kick, or push to deal with someone bullying you or your friends. Fighting back just satisfies a bully and it's dangerous. You're also likely to get in trouble.

What if the bully doesn’t stop being mean to that person?  You should ask a guidance counselor or principal for help because they are skilled with bullying.

What to do when the bully leaves the situation  Offer help. When the bully is gone, try and help the person who was bullied and make sure he or she is okay. Encourage him or her to stick up for him or herself. Two is better than one if you're trying to avoid being bullied. Make a plan to walk with the person who is being bullied on the way to school, at recess, at lunch, or wherever you think you might run into the bully.

Preventing a Run-In With the Bully  Don't give the bully a chance. Avoiding the bully will help. You can't hide or skip class, but if you can, take a different route and avoid contact with the bully.

What Happens to Bullies?  In the end, bullies usually end up in trouble. If they keep acting mean or hurtful, they may have only a few friends left. The power they wanted slips away fast. Other kids move on and leave bullies behind.