TIPS FOR TEENS

12 Things NOT to Do When Someone Bullies You

1.  CRY!  Bullies love having power over others.  They enjoy making people cry.  When you cry, you give bullies what they want.  On the other hand, you might be so upset that you can't help crying.  If this happens, get away as quickly as you can.  Find a friend or an adult who will listen and support you.

2.  Hunch over, hang your head, and try to look so small the bully will stop noticing you.  This gives bullies what they want -- someone who appears even more scared and weak.

3.  Try to get even with the bully.  The bully might get angry and come after you again.  Plus getting even makes YOU a bully, too.

4.  Hit, push, or kick the bully.  Since bullies tend to be bigger and stronger than the people they pick on, chances are you'll get hurt.  Plus you might get in trouble for fighting.

5.  Threaten the bully.  The bully might get angry and come after you even harder.

6.  Call the bully a bad name.  This will only make the bully angry.

7.  Ignore the bully.  Bullies want a reaction from the people they're bullying.  Ignoring them might lead to more and worse bullying.

8.  Tell the bully's parents.  Some kids become bullies because their parents bully them.  The bully's parents are more likely to believe their child, not you.  They might even get defensive and blame you for doing something to "deserve" the bullying.

9.  Stay home from school.  Unless you feel you're in real danger, you should never stay home from school to avoid a bully.  Remember that bullies love power.  Imagine how powerful they feel when they can scare someone away from school!  Plus staying home from school gets in the way of your learning and hurts you even more.

The next three strategies sometimes backfire.  Assess the situation and follow your instincts before you try them.

10. Tell a joke or say something silly.  Never tell a joke about the bully or make fun of him or her.

11. Laugh and act like you just don't care.  Some bullies will bully harder to get the reaction they want.

12. Run away.  Sometimes it's better to stand your ground and stick up for yourself.

WALK AWAY AND REPORT BULLYING TO THE OFFICE!!  TELL A TEACHER, THE COUNSELOR, OR THE PRINCIPAL.  WE MUST ALL WORK TOGETHER TO STOP BULLYING.