A person has the right to be treated respectfully and to strive to achieve their goals.  This section is dedicated to sharing information that will help bullyproof your child’s life.

To help a child combat bullying, an understanding of the difference in someone being mean and bullying has to occur. 

1)    BEING MEAN – when a person uses bullying behaviors (teasing, excluding, name calling, physically hurting, talking behind a person’s back, etc) toward another person. 

STRATEGY - the child needs to stand up for himself or his friend when the mean behaviors happen.  After trying to solve the problem 3 times, the child needs to seek the help of the teacher or adult.

2)    BULLYING – when  a person uses bullying behaviors

R – REPEATED (OVER AND OVER AGAIN – MORE THAN 3 TIMES)

I – INTENTIONAL (THE PERSON DOES THE BEHAVIOR ON PURPOSE KNOWING WHAT WILL HAPPEN)

P – POWER IMBALANCE (SIZE OR AGE, NUMBER OF CHILDREN INVOLVED, SOCIAL POWER)
STRATEGY - TELL AN ADULT.  By the time it has evolved into bullying, the child has tried to stop it themselves and they now need adult assistance.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.  THE QUICKER THEY STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS, THE LEAST LIKELY THE BEHAVIOR WILL TURN INTO BULLYING.