How can children effectively deal with bullies?

Answer:

Children must understand that bullies have a need for power and control over others and a desire to hurt people. They often lack self-control, empathy, and sensitivity. With that said, it's helpful for children to use these strategies when dealing with bullies:

Avoid the bully as much as possible.  Stay away from him on the playground, or walk down a different hallway if you can.

Practice standing and walking with confidence. Bullies usually pick on people who are smaller and physically weaker than they are, or who they feel will not retaliate. To avoid being an easy target, stand up straight, hold your head up high, keep your shoulders back, and look into the bully's eyes -- not at the ground or elsewhere.

Don't let a bully make you feel bad.  When someone says something bad about you, say something positive to yourself. Remind yourself of your positive attributes.

Tell the bully how you feel, why you feel the way you do, and what you want the bully to do.  Learn to do this with a calm and determined voice. Say, for example, "I feel angry when you call me names because I have a real name. I want you to start calling me by my real name."

Don't reward the bully with tears. The bully wants to hurt your feelings, so act like his name-calling and taunts don't hurt. You can do this by admitting the bully is right. For example, when the bully calls you "fatty," look him in the eye and say calmly, "You know, I am overweight. I need to start getting more exercise." Then walk off with confidence.

Disarm the bully with humor.  Laugh at his threats and walk away from him.

Use your best judgment, and follow your instincts.  If the bully wants your homework, and you think he is about to hurt you, give him your work and walk off with confidence. Then tell an adult what happened.

Don't expect to be mistreated.  When walking toward a group of children, think of them as being nice to you, and do your best to be friendly. Most important, treat others the way you want to be treated. Stand up for other students who are bullied, and ask them to stand up for you.

More information on bullying:

http://www.stopbullying.gov

http://backgroundchecks.org/cyber-bullying-helping-the-bullied-stopping-the-bullies.html

http://www.ncpc.org/topics/bullying

http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/parents/index.html

http://www.pta.org/bullying.asp

http://www.stopgirlbullying.com

http://www.stopbullyingworld.org

Article taken from Parent’s Magazine.