Bullying
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What can you do if you see someone being bullied?
Although you may not be directly involved in the bullying, there may be times when you see others being bullied. And even though it may be easier to stand by and watch or ignore the bullying, try to keep in mind that we all need a little help from time to time. Think about how you might feel if the bullying was happening to you. Here’s how you can make a difference:
- Don’t join in on bullying. If you see someone being bullied, don’t join in. If the bully tries to get you to help, refuse and walk away.
- Stop the rumors. Don’t help spread rumors about another person. You wouldn’t want rumors spread about you, so don’t do it to someone else! If someone gossips to you, let it end with you – don’t pass it on to others. You can even tell that person you’re not interested.
- Tell an adult. Don’t just stand there and watch, especially if someone is being hurt physically. Tell an adult about the bully and what’s going on. If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe telling an adult, ask the adult to keep your comments private.
- Offer help. When the bully is gone, try and help the person who was bullied and make sure he or she is okay. Encourage them to talk to an adult and stick up for him/herself.
When you help someone who’s being bullied, you are not just helping someone else, you’re also helping yourself. It’s important to stand up for what you believe in and help others when you can.
What can you do if you are being bullied?
You think you’re a good person and you don’t make anyone mad, at least not on purpose. So what do you do if you are bullied? Should you let it happen?
- Tell an adult. Many young people fear telling an adult because they don’t want to look like a snitch or appear weak. However, adults can help end bullying. It might also make you feel better to talk to an adult.
- Stand up for yourself. Believe it or not, this will help you gain respect from others. Practice what you might say to a bully with a friend, your mirror or an adult. Practice saying it in a firm, confident voice. You may even encourage others to protect themselves from bullying, too.
- Tell the bully to stop. Calmly walk away. Believe in yourself and tell others how you feel and what you think. You will gain respect from others. Also, by leading the way and showing others that you can’t be bullied, you can help prevent bullying in the future. You can also encourage others to protect themselves from being bullied.
- Do not fight back! It’s hard to do, but walk away from a bully and ignore them. If you give in to a bully and fight back, you could end up getting into trouble instead of the bully. If someone is hurting you physically, try to get away fast, call for help or get help from an adult.
- Lighten the air! Make a joke to lighten the mood. Say something funny to distract the people involved.
- Make new friends and get involved. Making friends and having interests and extracurricular activities will make you feel better about yourself and the bullying situation. It will introduce you to people who share similar interests. When making friends, make sure you have positive friendships that are fun and free of bullying.
- Don’t blame yourself. It’s important for you to know that it’s not your fault. No one deserves to be treated this way. If you’re being bullied, try to stop it by yourself, or with help from an adult.
- Be strong! Bullies like to upset people, particularly those who can’t stand up for themselves. Be in control so that the bully won’t feel in control. It’s important to be confident and have good self-esteem. Even if you don’t feel it at the moment, acting like you do will help. You may find that you are pretty good at handling a bully after all, and the next time you won’t have to fake the confidence.
