9 Ways to Stop Bullying at School in Its Tracks

1. Treat people with respect

Be kind and polite to others, even people who are different from you. Treat others the way you expect to be treated.

2. Tell an adult

Talk to an adult you trust like a parent or school counselor if you experience or witness bullying. Adults are powerful tools you can turn to for protection.

And don’t think of telling as “snitching”; think of it as stopping an abuser from harming you or anyone else. Your actions may also help the person who is harming others get the help they need, too.

3. Stay away from bullies

Bullies sometimes hang out in familiar places like the playground or locker room. Steer clear of any places where bullies congregate if it is emotionally or physically unsafe. If you’re concerned, take a friend with you when possible.

4. Stand up for yourself

If you’re being bullied, keep your cool and say things like, “Whatever,” or “I don’t care what you say.” Bullies want to get a rise out of you. Staying calm and making neutral comments may get them to back off.

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5. Be kind to bullied kids

If you see someone getting bullied, get an adult involved. Invite the bullied kid to sit with you at lunch or on the bus. They need to know they’re not alone.

6. Don’t react like a bully

You may feel like acting out in anger toward a bully. But that’s exactly what the bully wants. It’s better to stay calm and walk away than engage in bullying behavior.

7. Use a buddy system

Avoid going anywhere alone when possible. Instead, have a friend who will help stick up for you and who you can stick up for. You’ll feel more powerful together.

8. Make more friends

Bullies are less likely to confront you if you’re surrounded by friends. Make lots of friends as much as you can and stick together.

9. Get involved

Join anti-bullying groups in your school or community. The best way to fight bullying is with friends and concerned adults.

1. Rules

Your school’s anti-bullying rules should focus on prevention, parental involvement, and a respectful environment. It should get everyone involved including coaches, custodians, and all classmates.

2. Recognize

Understand what bullying is and how to spot it when it’s happening.

3. Report

See if your school has a form you can fill out to report bullying. If not, tell an adult about the bullying you witnessed or experienced.

4. Respond

Learn ways to help someone who is being bullied instead of watching or walking away.

5. Refuse

Don’t allow bullies to get away with their behavior. Work with friends and adults to end bullying.

6. Replace

It’s important for students who are prone to bullying to replace aggressive behaviors with non-aggressive behaviors.

Types of bullying

The following list highlights some of the more common types of bullying:

• Physical: This type of bullying happens when a bully hits, shoves, trips, or punches their victim.

• Verbal: With verbal bullying, the perpetrator taunts their victim or makes fun of their appearance, race, religion, social status, disability, intellectual ability, or sexual and gender identity.

• Social: Social bullying happens when someone spreads rumors, humiliates, or encourages others to exclude their target.

• Cyber: Cyberbullying uses digital technology to spread lies, post mean messages, or upload embarrassing images of someone else. Unwanted sexting, sending or receiving photos, videos, or messages of a sexual nature, is a form of cyberbullying.

• Sexual: This type of bullying occurs when someone degrades your gender or sexuality. The bully may use sexual language, gestures, or violence to harass or pressure you into uncomfortable behavior.

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