Bullying. No way!

On the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence Kids Helpline is releasing its top tips to combat bullying.

Last year the most downloaded topics from our website were cyberbullying and bullying which shows that children, young people and parents are searching for support.

One in four children in Australia will experience some form of bullying, and it’s important we undertake both preventative measures to stop it happening and also offer support to kids dealing with the problem. Wendy Protheroe, Kids Helpline

KIDS HELPLINE TOP ANTI-BULLYING TIPS:

1. Remember - it is NEVER your fault.
2. Walk away - if you choose to walk away, speak to a teacher or someone in the school, tell them what happened.
3. Respond - responding to a bully may help give you a greater sense of power and control. A person’s confidence plays a big part in being able to respond to a bully.
4. Talk to someone - it is important to tell an adult you trust, e.g. a teacher, parent or counsellor. It can also help to keep a diary of bullying incidents including who was involved, the time it occurred, what happened and who you told about it.
5. Take action - You can block the bullies from sending you messages or emails or stay off line for a while.
6. It can help to keep copies of abusive messages that are sent to you because they can be used later as evidence.

If kids want to talk to someone about bullying, they can call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or use email or web counselling services. No issue is too big or small.

Let us know your thoughts about bullying. Are your kids facing it now? Please comment below