WHAT TO DO IN A BULLYING SITUATION

Bullying is a deliberate, hurtful behaviour. It is usually difficult for those being bullied to put a stop to the bullying. Experts suggest the following tips for helping children to deal with bullies:

CONFRONT! – Tell the bully to STOP what they are doing. Explain that you don’t like their behaviour and how it makes you feel. Ask them why they are bullying you. Let them know that you would like the situation to stop and that you will get help from an adult if you need to.

IGNORE! – Don’t give the bully your attention. This is what they crave the most.

AVOID! – Stay away from students who bully others. If the bully does not have any friends to play with, they may learn that their behaviour must change if they want to have friends.

GET HELP! – Talk your problem over with a friend, teacher or parent. It is right to tell an adult that you being bullied. Involving an adult does not mean that they will take over the problem for you, but they may help you practice how to deal with the problem yourself. In some situations, an adult is needed to stop the bullying. The school has a safe school committee which will deal with these type of issues.