This is from
www.bullying.org, and I put especially relevant points in bold:
What should you do if you see someone else being bullied?
· Don't join in. Don't be mean to other kids by calling them names or picking on them.
· Walk away. Help the kid who is being bullied by leading them away from the bully, without looking at the bully.
Did you know that bullying usually stops within 10 seconds after someone who is watching (a bystander) gets involved? Get help from an adult or yell for help if you need to.
· DO NOT try to fight the bully. You should never make fun of a bully or say mean things to a bully. It will just make things worse for you and everyone else.
· Believe the kid being bullied. Listen to what they have to say.
· Don't make the bully feel important by paying attention to them. When you ignore bullies, you take away their power.
· Bullies like to look tough in front of others, so they almost always have an audience when they are being mean. Most of the time the bullying will end if someone like you steps in to stop it.
· Make sure the kid who's being bullied tells an adult. Offer to go with them if it will help. If he or she doesn't want to talk to anybody, offer to talk to someone they trust for them.
· Involve as many people as possible, including other friends or classmates, parents, teachers, school counselors and the principal.
·
Stand up, don't stand by. Kids can stand up for each other by telling a bully to stop teasing or hurting someone else.
· Refuse to join in and don't just sit back and watch. The bully wants an audience. You give bullies power when you watch. If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
·
Be a friend. Kids who are being bullied can sure use a friend. Walk with a friend or two on the way to school or recess or lunch or wherever you think you might meet the bully. Offer to do the same for someone else who's having trouble with a bully. Look out for kids who are new to school, or those kids who always seem to be alone. Invite the new kid at school to your party. Think about how you feel when you're left out of something.
· Treat others the way you want to be treated.
Stand up for someone when he or she needs it, and when you need it, someone will stand up for you. Everyone has the right to be respected and the responsibility to respect others!
Fact: Peers are present 85% of the time when bullying occurs.
Fact: Bullying will stop within 10 seconds most of the time when someone else steps in to be a friend to the victim.
