If bullying is a part of your life, we can help you make it stop. If you are bullying others, we can help YOU stop. Remember, you don’t have to deal with this on your own.
Kids who bully have power. And power can make you feel good. But how does the person being bullied feel? They feel SCARED, hurt, EMBARRASSED, sad and ANGRY. Have you ever felt that way? Would you like to feel that way everyday? If you did, wouldn’t you want someone to help make it stop?
Are there other ways you can feel powerful without hurting others?
Show how powerful you really can be by changing your behaviour!
REMEMBER
- If you have been hurt before, bullying someone else won’t make you feel better. You did not deserve to be hurt. We all deserve to feel safe.
- Be a real leader – treat people with respect.
- Be brave – apologize to the person you have bullied.
- Are there any activities or sports you enjoy that make you feel good?
- Just because other kids watch and laugh doesn’t mean they like it when you bully. They’re scared too.
- Different doesn’t mean better or worse than you. It just means different.
If you are bullying others, ask an adult to help you stop. Bullying is serious and it is NEVER okay. YOU can make a difference. Choose what’s right.
10 seconds is all it takes to stop someone from bullying. If you are too scared to tell someone to STOP bullying, go find an adult who can make it stop. Sometimes, kids confuse tattling with telling. Tattling is what you do to get someone IN trouble. Telling is what you do to get someone OUT of trouble. If you see someone being bullied you need to get them OUT of trouble – you need to get help.
If you watch someone bully but don’t do anything about it, have you helped someone – or have you helped hurt them?
Kids who are being bullied often can’t stand up for themselves. But you can stand up for them! Here are some ways you can make a difference:
- Invite kids who are being bullied to play with you somewhere else.
- Be their friend. Make sure they know no one deserves to be bullied.
- Use your voice! Tell someone who is bullying that their behaviour is NOT OKAY.
Bullying hurts. Don’t be part of the problem – be part of the solution!
It can be really hard to ignore someone when they are making you feel sad, scared, hurt or embarrassed. If you are being bullied, the best thing you can do is TELL SOMEONE!
Talk to an adult you trust – a parent, a relative, a teacher, a coach. Or write a letter and give it to an adult or a friend who can pass it on. Telling will NOT make the problem worse. It will HELP make it better.
It is an adult’s responsibility to protect children. Kids who bully others need to know that adults will not allow kids to be hurt. Tell an adult – they will help stop the bullying.
What else can I do?
- Stay close to other kids or adults who will stick up for you.
- Stay in areas where you feel safe.
- Walk away.
- Fight back with WORDS not fists. Tell a kid who is hurting you (or someone else), “Bullying is NOT cool!” Fighting back by punching or kicking can make the problem worse.
- Practice looking brave, even if you don’t feel brave.
- Don’t blame yourself. This is not your fault.
If you are being bullied, telling an adult is the best way to make it stop, but sometimes writing a letter is easier than explaining things face-to-face. This fill-in-the-blank letter can help you collect your thoughts to share with your teacher, principal, counsellor or coach.
