If you are not near the bully, you will not become a victim.
Bullies typically have friends following them and rely on bystanders to look the other way when you’re being bullied.
Most bullies will be taken aback by your direct eye contact and will not continue their aggression towards you.
Most bullies are playing to an audience, and so a crowd may gather if the bully has begun to taunt you. Don’t let the crowd keep you confined; tell them assertively (the louder the better) to let you leave.
Adults can address the bully directly, or speak to the bully’s parents to make sure that the situation doesn’t happen again. In other instances, responsible adults will give you good advice to enable you to stand up for yourself. Or, the adults may help you strategize about your problem.
For example, ask one of your favorite teachers if you can eat lunch in their classroom to avoid bullies at recess. Or, ask one of your parents if they can pick you up right after school, so you’re not bullied while waiting for the bus.
Say something like, “No, stop it!” or “Hey, why don’t you just leave me alone!” Telling the bully to stop harassing you will also draw attention to the situation. If you can’t shake the bully, you might be able to convince the people watching not to be bystanders.
“I heard Mr. Peterson was going to supervise recess today. You better leave; you don’t want him to catch you here. ” “I heard the cafeteria is giving out free tacos with lunch. You’d better hurry if you want to get any. ” Afterwards, tell a responsible adult that you were bullied and describe what happened.
“Why are you picking on me? This really isn’t fair. ” “What do you want? I don’t want to fight you. ” If all else fails, you might appeal to their ego to avoid a fight: “Everyone knows you’ll beat me easily if we fight. ”
Do not make angry outbursts or cry when bullied. Either response will give the bully exactly what they’re looking for.
Fighting may get you into trouble with parents or the authorities. If this happens, your best bet is to explain that you were simply defending yourself from an attacking bully. If you are as big or as strong as your bully, you may get blamed for being in the fight. If you feel that authority figures (like parents and teachers) will punish you for fighting back, no matter how much you try to explain it to them, fighting back may not be the best option.
Look the bully in the face. Focus on how the bully moves and adjust your position confidently. You are essentially committing yourself to fighting so be prepared to defend yourself.
If you boast about your strength or make overly aggressive advances, the bully may begin to target you more frequently and continue the cycle of violence. [11] X Research source
Tighten your stomach in case the bully tries to punch you there. Turn a little sideways so your body is not as big a target.
Be sure to do it in a public place with witnesses. Even if you get embarrassed or beat up, in the end you’ll have proof you need for the bully to eventually get punished. In most cases, it’s best to tell your parents you were attacked. Explain that you were being bullied and that you acted in self-defense.
