Kids Who Bully

Do you think others might see your behaviour as bullying? Do you:
 

•	hurt others on a regular basis?
•	often boss other people and expect them to do as you say?
•	join in with other students when you see them bullying another student?
•	laugh when people get hurt?
•	blame other people if you hurt someone?
•	say sorry but not really mean it?
•	feel good when someone is afraid of you?

If you answered YES to many of these questions, then the answer is probably yes.  It’s important that you think seriously about how your words and actions affect others. Bullying can be very hurtful and damaging to the victims, however it’s never too late to change your behaviour.
 
The reality is no one is best friends with everyone they go to school with. There will always be students you don’t get along perfectly with, who get on your nerves or with whom you have little in common with. However, there are ways to interact peacefully and respectfully with these people.
 
If you are about to bully someone, try to stop and think how you would feel if you were them. Even if this person has done something to make you upset or angry, bullying is not the solution. Take a deep breath, tell them that you don’t like what they are doing, walk away or get a teacher/parent to help you.

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It’s never too late to try and change your behaviour and stop bullying. Adults understand that there’s always a reason behind bullying. While this doesn’t make bullying okay, we know that students bully others because they are not feeling good about themselves or because they are having trouble dealing with something painful in their lives.  Kids will often use bullying as a way to get attention and feel accepted. The bullying makes people notice them and gives them a sense of power. But there are much better ways to gain acceptance and respect from others – without hurting anyone!
 
If you are bullying because you are feeling sad, angry, misunderstood or hurt, you NEED TO GET HELP. Treating others meanly won’t make your problems go away and it won’t help you feel better in the long run.  If you continue to bully, you will loose many friends overtime as they begin to recognize that your treatment of others is not something they want to be a part of.  
 
Find an adult that you trust to discuss your problems and your behaviour. Together you can work on strategies for dealing with your feelings and feeling accepted without being a bully.
 
To get a better understanding of your behaviour, click here to take a survey on bullying behaviour. It takes a lot of courage to answer these questions truthfully and admit that some of your behaviour is hurting others. Once you have completed the survey, show your answers to a trusted adult. Talk about why you sometimes bully others and what you can do to change your behaviour.