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Bullying can happen in many different forms

The following article is from Bullying Stops Here. For more information on bullying, visit pinkshirtday.ca . Bullying happens in many different forms.
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Pink shirts will fill Sungod Arena next Wednesday as elementary students take a stand against bullying.

The following article is from Bullying Stops Here. For more information on bullying, visit pinkshirtday.ca.

 

Bullying happens in many different forms. It's doing, saying or acting in a way that hurts someone else or makes him or her feel bad on purpose. Some kinds of bullying are:

* Verbal (name-calling)

* Physical (punching, pushing)

* Social (leaving someone out of a game or group on purpose)

* Extortion (stealing someone's money or toys)

* Cyberbullying (using computers, the Internet, mobile phones, etc. to bully others)

 

Words hurt! We all seem to recognize physical bullying, but sometimes other forms of bullying are not as easy to identify.

Being called names can hurt someone else's feelings really badly. All forms of bullying are harmful, but verbal bullying, including name-calling, happens more often than any other kind of bullying.

Bullying hurts everyone. Victims can have their feelings hurt or be injured by bullies. Other kids can feel sad or scared, even if they are just watching a bully pick on someone else. Kids who bully often grow up to become adult bullies.

Bullies come in all shapes, sizes and ages. Anyone can be a bully - even you. Kids usually become bullies because they are unhappy inside for some reason or don't know how to get along with other kids.

Fact: Bullying happens to someone in Canada every seven minutes on the playground.

Fact: Other kids are watching 85 per cent of the time when one kid bullies another kid. Adults like teachers or parents hardly ever see a bully being mean to someone else.

TIPS

If you are being bullied, try one of the following strategies:

- Walk away

- Tell someone you trust

- Take the initiative to get help

- Say something complimentary to the bully to distract them

- Stay in groups to avoid confrontation

- Use humour to deflect the situation

- Never let the bully see you sweat

- Practice self-affirmation (i.e. I am a nice person)

If you are a bystander, instead of ignoring a bullying incident try the following:

- Tell a teacher (administration)

- Move toward or next to the victim

- Use your voice "stop"

- Befriend the victim

- Lead victim away from the situation

If you think you are the bully, try the following:

- Talk to a teacher/counsellor

- Put yourself in their shoes

- Stop the cycle

- Think before you act