Kids: If You are Being Bullied, It's Your Right to Tell
Measure the Problem
Work with your parents or care-givers to set up an “Upset Scale.” Whenever you are worried or scared or angry about a bullying situation, tell them how upset you are by using the numbers 1 to 10. A “1” means “I am a bit sad, but I can handle it.” A “10” means “I need help, NOW!”
Speak Up
You are in charge of your thoughts, feelings and actions. Listen to your body for signs that you need to tell an adult about a bullying situation. Are you worried, scared, or angry for long periods of time? Are you feeling different about food and sleep because you are worried? If your mind and body are giving you signals that you are having trouble, Tell Someone!
Build your Team against Bullying
When someone is bullying you, you are absolutely RIGHT to tell an adult. You do not have to handle the problem all by yourself. Let an adult join in and work with you to stop the bullying.
Choose Someone to Listen
Think about adults who care about you. They don’t want you to feel worried, scared or angry. They want to help you in any way they can to take away those feelings. Who would you talk to if you were a victim of bullying? Here are some possibilities: parents, grandparents, care-givers, coaches, youth workers, friends of the family, your teachers, your neighbours, your relatives — the right person for you is anyone you trust who you know cares for you. Remember, you can also always talk to someone privately and without giving your name at Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or kidshelpphone.ca.
Change Who’s at the Controls
Bullying is about power and control. A person who bullies wants to feel that they are more powerful than the person they hurt and that they can control that person by their actions. Take that control back by telling an adult and getting the help you deserve.
One Step at a Time
Sometimes it feels like the whole world is caving in around you. Try solving one problem at a time. If someone is continuously harassing you or making you feel left out or afraid, get some help. You may find that once that load is gone, you can handle some of the other problems by yourself.
Keep Telling
If you try to tell an adult and they don’t seem to be listening, don’t give up. Everyone gets distracted or busy sometimes and they don’t always pay complete attention. Try again, and again. If you can’t get help from the first or second adult that you talk to, tell a third. Don’t get discouraged. Keep telling until you find someone who will listen.
Be True to You
Don’t let others try to convince you to act in ways that will hurt yourself or someone else. Trust your own feelings and your own sense of right and wrong. If someone threatens to hurt you if you don’t do something that you know is wrong or makes you feel uncomfortable, that is bullying. Don’t accept it — tell someone!
Help a Friend
If you know someone who is being bullied, but is afraid to tell someone, talk to them and tell them what you know about making problems better by sharing them with a trusted adult. You can even offer to go with them to talk to an adult about their situation.
Think about This
People who bully count on the fact that the person they are bullying will not tell because they are afraid or embarrassed. The fact is, if you tell someone about a bullying situation you can help make the bullying stop and take away the bully’s power over you. You can do it, with a little help. Think about it!