Dealing with Bullies
* Bullies are afraid. That's why they often group together to pick on someone. When they're separated, they're gutless. That's why dealing with people individually is crucial. When you look him/her straight in the eye, he/she will begin to shrink.
* When explaining to a child why others are bullies, say:
"Some people are really angry, so they take it out on other people."
* Advice for parents:
Empower your children. Be assertive. Call the bullies' parents. Be involved. Speak with your child's teachers to make sure there's an attitude that bullying will not be tolerated.
* Advice for teachers:
If one child is getting bullied, it needs to be everybody's business. Instill a value system in the classroom and on the playground that someone who sits silently and watches a bully is as guilty as the bully himself. Keep a spirit of inclusion — and enforce it.
