Bullying: How Children Can Discourage Bullying

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How Children Can Discourage Bullying

Ways that children can help avoid bullying include:

• Trying to stay away from those who seem to not like them.
• Playing or taking breaks near adults while at school.
• Walking to school with older brothers and sisters or friends.
• Sitting near the bus driver.

Bullying is less likely to occur when children are in groups and are in areas supervised by adults. But these strategies are only effective when schools have firm policies in place against bullying. Staff must be trained and supported in consistently enforcing these policies.

Children who bully look for an easy target. Bullies are less likely to pick on those who:

• Can quickly respond to threats in a self-assured way. Help your child practice what to say if he or she is bullied.
• Act confident and do not seem easily scared. Help your child learn to use strong body language, such as standing up straight, looking other children in the eye, and speaking firmly.

Bullying is reinforced when it is ignored or quietly accepted. Encourage children to stand up for each other. Help your children think of ways to help someone who is being bullied. For example, you might suggest that a child say, "Why are you picking on him? If you think it makes you look good, you're wrong." Other simple measures include refusing to watch or participate in bullying. Sometimes distracting a bully, such as by starting a conversation, can prevent a confrontation.

Defending another person may sometimes be too much to ask. Help your child understand that, at the very least, he or she should tell an adult.

Last updated:	January 31, 2007
Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Frederick P. Rivara, MD, MPH - Pediatrics
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC