Bullying

5 Ways to Take Away a Bully's Power, by Dr. Brad Schwall

Bullies bully to get a reaction.  Reactions reward bullies with power over their victim's feelings, thoughts, and actions.  The key way to handle bully behavior: take away their power.  Don't let bullies control feelings, actions, and thoughts.

Parents, counselors, and teachers can encourage these bully-power-sappers.

1.  Ignore bullying

• Encourage children to avoid reacting in frustration to bullies
• Help children brainstorm responses to bullies

2.  Be confident 

• Affirm children and help them learn how to think positive thoughts about themselves
• Confidence keeps children from letting the words and actions of others affect they way they feel and think about themselves

3.  Build good friendships

• Guide children to develop skills for building good friendships
• Help children connect with their peers at school and out of school
• Isolated children make easier targets for bullies
• Friendship skills can even help bullies stop bullying - bullies often act meanly because they do not know how to interact positively with others

4.  Don't stoop to the bully's level

• Retaliation leads children to make bad choices and face consequences
• Children can stand up for themselves and be strong without trying to retaliate - guide children to speak firmly to bullies and to talk to adults about problems with bullies

5.  Give respect

• Teach children how to give respect - it is not enough just to tell children not to bully, we must teach them what to do instead
• Affirm and reward children when they give respect
• Do not model bullying behaviors

Give power to children who give respect and take away the power of bullies.


Cool Kids is a social and emotional learning curriculum that teaches students in Kindergarten through 8th grade social and emotional skills for success in relationships, academics, and life.
Copyright 2008 Cool Communications LLC, Dr. Brad Schwall, www.coolkidschannel.com