• Bullies love a reaction, don't give them WHAT KIDS CAN DO one. Stay calm. Kids Help Phone • Stand up straight and don't show the bully 1-800-668-6868 You do not have to put up with bullying at that you are afraid or that your feelings www.kidshelpphone.ca school or in the community. It is NOT just “a are hurt. part of life”. • Be alert. Think fast. How can you get out Bullying Awareness Network of the situation safely? www.bullyingawarenessnetwork.ca How to keep from being bullied • Hang out with friends and play in groups. Walk to school with a buddy. • Fighting back can make the situation worse, and you may get hurt. Get away. Find safety or call for help. • Talk to an adult you trust for ideas and Canadian Initiative for the Prevention of Bullying www.cipb.ca BULLYING • If you know a kid who doesn’t like you, stay away from them and places they help. Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada • Have a plan for dealing with bullies. www.bgccan.com like to hang out. • Stay within sight of grownups whenever Think of things to say ahead of time and possible. If they can see you, they can practice them at home. help you. • Get help. Report the situation to the • Don’t bring expensive things or a lot of school and your parents. money to school. Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada provides a • Practice showing confidence. Stand tall. What should you tell others? safe, supportive place where children and Walk proud. If you look confident and • What happened to you and how you youth can experience new opportunities, make eye contact, the bully probably reacted overcome barriers, build positive relationships won’t pick on you. • Who bullied you and who saw it happen and develop confidence and skills for life. • If someone is bothering you, tell an adult • Where it happened and if it’s happened before For over 105 years, Boys and Girls Clubs right away. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to stop it. • Write down everything including things across Canada have been leading that other kids or adults did to help you. providers of quality programs to children and
What if someone else is being bullied?
youth in over 700 community-based locations. What you should know We serve more than 154,000 young people Most of the time bullying takes place, other kids are watching. These bystanders, as they’re and their families each year. What you can do called, have the power to help stop bullying. In fact, when other kids step in, bullying stops within 10 seconds, 57% of the time. Most kids feel uncomfortable watching but few intervene because they are afraid or don’t know what to do. You can: • Go for help if the situation is dangerous or you are unsure or afraid. • Walk away. Don’t be an audience for the bully. Get help. • Be a buddy to the victim. Invite them to join you. This resource was made possible through the generous support of Sears Young Futures, the Sears Canada community • Speak up…a simple “you’re being a bully” investment program. might be enough to stop the incident. WHAT IS BULLYING? WHAT PARENTS CAN DO THINGS AREN’T GETTING Bullying is repeated, aggressive behaviour by Be proactive If your child is being bullied BETTER, WHAT NOW? one or more people, which harms others • Talk to your children about what bullying • Care for cuts and bruises first. • Arrange a meeting to find out what is physically and/or emotionally. is. Encourage them to tell you if they are • Calmly assure your child that you will do being done about the situation. Agree Bullying includes: bullied. your best to help them. Never blame to a timetable and/or a schedule of • Name-calling, verbal taunts, gossiping • Role play bullying scenarios and discuss your child or suggest you cannot help. actions that will be taken. and put-downs the best ways to respond. • Do not promise to keep the incident a • If staff make excuses for the bullying • Exclusion from a peer group • Talk with your children about their friends. secret. Explain that this protects the behaviour, or refuse to address the • Threats and intimidation Show interest in their school and social bully who is counting on the child to incident, report the incident (with • Extortion or stealing of money and life. remain silent. copies of notes, schedules, etc.) to the possessions • Give your child the chance to exercise • Get the facts – what, when and where it board and demand the issue be • Physical violence and attacks independence in a safe way that will build happened, who was involved, if there addressed. confidence. were witnesses, and if it has happened • Your local police service can provide No matter how it is defined, bullying is abuse. • Provide positive social opportunities for before. information and support. You may It cannot be simply brushed aside as a your child (play dates, sleepovers). • Encourage your child to talk about want to send them a copy of the “normal” part of growing up. Observe how friends treat your child. his/her feelings about being bullied. report documenting all events to date • Get involved in your child’s world – • Help your child practice assertive for their files. Impact school and beyond. strategies at home (saying “No!” in a Children who are the targets of bullying often • Seek counselling and outside support loud voice, walking away with for your child. experience extreme fear and stress, feelings confidence). of loneliness, humiliation and insecurity. • Encourage your child to tell an adult right Research shows that the emotional effects of away. bullying can last well into adulthood. • Work with staff to address the problem. Ask to see the policy on bullying. Keep What to look for notes and provide them with a written Victims often keep their problems a secret; report so you can talk specifically about they feel they should handle bullying your child’s experiences. themselves. They worry about the bully’s • Avoid blaming the administration; they revenge or other children’s disapproval, or are your ally in finding a solution. they think that adults can do little to help • Ask to be notified should your child them. Warning signs include: become involved in an incident. • A change in attitude, eating or sleeping • Offer support. Helping your child habits understand the choices and options they • Fear of going to school/afterschool have teaches them independence and programs self-confidence. • Lowered self-esteem • You have a right to expect that bullying • Unexplained sadness or depression or harassment will be dealt with in fair • Acting out at home and appropriate ways. Be patient. • Unexplained broken personal Conflict between children takes time to possessions, loss of money, loss of be resolved. personal items • Unexplained bruises, injuries or For more tips, visit www.bgccan.com. damaged clothes • Decreased interest and performance in school