Bullying is when someone hurts or scares another person on purpose, and it happens over and over again. It’s not okay, and everyone deserves to feel safe and happy. Here’s how you can tell if you or someone you know is being bullied, or if you might be bullying others without realizing it.
Are You Being Bullied?
- Mean Words: Do other kids call you names, tease you, or say things that hurt your feelings a lot?
- Physical Harm: Does someone hit, kick, push, or hurt you on purpose?
- Missing or Broken Stuff: Have you noticed your things are getting lost or damaged, and you think someone else might be doing it?
- Feeling Left Out: Do other kids leave you out of games or activities on purpose?
- Not Wanting to Go to School: Do you feel scared or pretend to be sick so you don’t have to go to school?
- Feeling Sad or Worried: Do you often feel sad, angry, or nervous, especially when thinking about school or certain people?
- Bad Dreams: Are you having trouble sleeping or having nightmares about people being mean to you?
Are You Bullying Others?
- Being Mean on Purpose: Do you tease, call names, or say unkind things to other kids a lot?
- Hurting Others: Have you hit, pushed, or physically hurt someone else?
- Taking or Breaking Things: Do you take things that aren’t yours or damage other people’s stuff?
- Leaving Others Out: Do you not let certain kids join your games or groups on purpose?
- Wanting Control: Do you like to be the boss and make others do what you want, even if they don’t want to?
What You Can Do
- Talk to an Adult: If you’re being bullied or think you might be bullying others, tell a trusted adult like a parent, teacher, or school counselor. They can help you.
- Be Kind: Treat others the way you want to be treated. Small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
- Include Others: Invite kids who are alone to play with you. Everyone likes to feel included.
- Think Before You Act: Before saying or doing something, ask yourself if it might hurt someone’s feelings.
- Stand Up Safely: If you see someone else being bullied, get help from an adult. Don’t join in or stay silent.
We know this is a lot of information, and it may be hard to figure out if you are getting bullied or are bullying someone else, you can always talk to a trusted adult to try and figure it out! Let’s be safe and happy together.
