If Your Child is Being Bullied in Person...
1. Tell the bully to stop.
- Be assertive. Make sure the bully knows that what they are doing is unwanted. Do not worry about being nice.
2. Get out of the situation.
- If possible, walk, turn, or move away from the bully.
- If you cannot get away and you feel physically threatened, yell or call attention to the situation.
3. Tell a trusted adult.
- Find a teacher, parent, neighbor, or other adult and tell them about the bullying incident.
- If they do not do anything, find someone else and tell them. Keep telling until someone listens.
4. Document bullying incidents.
- Use a notebook to write down details of when, where, and what happened during a bullying incident. Note any witnesses.
- Take pictures of any injuries, damaged property, and other visual signs of bullying.
- Keep copies of mean notes, but keep them out of sight.
5. Contact school officials.
- Tell teachers, principals, and other administrators about the bullying. Show them documentation.
- Do not attempt to contact the bully’s parents. Let the school do this.
- If school officials do not respond, talk to the superintendent and the school board.
- Join with other parents and keep voicing your concerns until the school takes action.
6. Seek outside help.
- Talk to staff at JWRC or other advocates about the possibility of legal action against the bully and/or the school.
- If you receive threats of physical violence, or if you are injured, contact police.
- Seek mental health intervention for the target of the bullying.