Talk to the person.
It is a good idea to talk to the person to find out more about the situation. Try to remember that the person you are talking with is probably very sensitive about the situation and could be scared to talk about it.

Let that person know you care.
Help boost this person's self-confidence. If a person is being bullied, it could affect his or her confidence. It can help to let this person know that you are a friend and that you care about them.

Include the person into your group.
Making a special effort to include the person into your group could help raise the person's confidence.

Stick up for him or her.
If you see someone is being bullied, it might be helpful to say something. Take care to ensure that in trying to stick up for the person being bullied, you don't make the situation worse or put yourself in danger.

Tell someone.
Letting someone else know about the situation can help you be part of the solution. A teacher, counselor, administrator or another adult are all great people to notify. It would be helpful to involve the person experiencing the bullying in the discussion. Together, you can go and talk to someone about the situation.

Don't be a bystander.
Bullying situations usually involve more than the bully and the victim. They also involve bystanders - those who watch bullying happen or hear about it. Most bystanders passively accept bullying by watching and doing nothing. Often without realizing it, these bystanders also contribute to the problem. Passive bystanders provide the audience a bully craves and the silent acceptance that allows bullies to continue their hurtful behavior.

Some tips for getting help:

• It might be easier if you talk to someone you know well and trust. This person can give you much needed support and might have suggestions for dealing with the situation that you might not have considered.
• If you decide to talk to a teacher or counselor, you might feel more comfortable taking a friend with you. If you feel you might get too nervous to speak, write down what you'd like to say on paper or in an email.
• If you think that the person you're speaking with doesn't believe you, or isn't taking you seriously, or if that person doesn't help you take action, it doesn't mean that your feelings aren't valid or that the bullying should continue. It's important you tell someone else and continue to do so until you get the help you need.
• Being bullied can be upsetting and stressful, and it can affect your life in many different ways, including your self-esteem, relationships, work and education.

Unfortunately, children don't always tell an adult that they have been bullied, so parents are sometimes unaware anything is wrong. Repeated bullying can cause severe emotional harm and can erode a child's self-esteem and overall mental health. It is important to know the warning signs that may indicate that your son or daughter is being bullied so that action can be taken if needed.

Possible warning signs:

• Unexplained injuries
• Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry
• Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick or faking illness
• Changes in eating habits, like suddenly skipping meals or binge eating. Kids may come home from school hungry because they did not eat lunch.
• Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares
• Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork or not wanting to go to school
• Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations
• Feelings of helplessness or decreased self-esteem self-destructive behaviors such as running away from home, harming themselves or talking about suicide

LEARN MORE

Blue Valley Board Policy 3512
Common Sense Media
StopBullying.gov
Stomp Out Bullying
BullyBust