Support the Victim: To provide immediate support for a child who has been bullied, separate the kids involved and make sure everyone is safe. Speak to the victim separately, away from their aggressor(s) and other children. While they may not want to talk, knowing that an adult acknowledges the bullying is the first step in helping them to heal. Let the victim know that what you saw or heard was inappropriate and that it will not be tolerated by you or your organization.
Empower the Bystanders: Bystanders often do nothing because they think it is none of their business. Other times, they feel powerless over the bully and fear retaliation, or they simply don’t know what to do. The bystander can learn the appropriate interventions and can be very powerful in these situations.
Address the Behavior, Not the Bully: Bullying is a behavior, not an identity. It can be learned and unlearned. Because of this, it is important to focus on the actions and not the person. Help the bully understand why what they did was wrong, and why it won’t be tolerated. Negative behaviors become “bullying” behaviors when they are repeated and have developed into a pattern of aggression.
