Be a friend, not a bully.

If you witness someone being bullied, verbally or physically, get an adult immediately.

DO NOT:
-Encourage the bully (laughing, taunting, chanting, etc.)
-walk away and say nothing
-downplay the situation
-join in

DO:
-Try to break up the fight
-Get the victim to a safe place
-Get a trusted adult immediately

Realize the Warning Signs

In Children Being Bullied At School:

• Comes home with torn, damaged, or missing pieces of clothing, books, or other belongings
• Has unexplained cuts, bruises, and scratches
• Has few, if any friends, with whom he or she spends time
• Seems afraid of going to school, walking to and from school, riding the school bus, or taking part in organized activities with peers (such as clubs)
• Takes a long, "illogical" route when walking to or from school
• Has lost interest in school work or suddenly begins to do poorly in school
• Appears sad, moody, teary, or depressed when he or she comes home
• Complains frequently of headaches, stomachaches, or other physical ailments
• Has trouble sleeping or has frequent bad dreams
• Experiences a loss of appetite
• Appears anxious and suffers from low self-esteem

In An Abusive Relationship:

• Extreme jealousy or possessiveness
• Pushes for quick and intense involvement
• Seems too good to be true
• Blames others for actions
• Needs to be in control
• Unrealistic expectations of the relationship
• Easily upset or angered
• Inability to respect partner's boundaries, privacy, need for separate activities or identity
• History of violent behavior

In An Abusive Home:

The Child:

• Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance
• Has not received help for physical or medical problems brought to the parents' attention
• Has learning problems (or difficulty concentrating) that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes
• Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen
• Lacks adult supervision
• Is overly compliant, passive, or withdrawn
• Comes to school or other activities early, stays late, and does not want to go home

The Parent:

• Shows little concern for the child
• Denies the existence of—or blames the child for—the child's problems in school or at home
• Asks teachers or other caregivers to use harsh physical discipline if the child misbehaves
• Sees the child as entirely bad, worthless, or burdensome
• Demands a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve
• Looks primarily to the child for care, attention, and satisfaction of emotional needs

The Parent and Child:

• Rarely touch or look at each other
• Consider their relationship entirely negative
• State that they do not like each other

There are so many different kinds of bullying that its hard to explain them all. If you've ever said something hurtful to someone or done something that you know would hurt them, you have been a bully.