Teach Kids These 3 Ways to Stop Bullying

How do you stop bullying and promote inclusion?

One way is to teach students what to do when a classmate is being bullied. At an assembly at Country Dale Elementary in Franklin, WI, Chelsea Budde of Good Friend, Inc. gave kids these three takeaways:

1. Stand next to the person who’s being bullied.

Literally standing up for bullied kids lets them know they’re not alone. It also lets aggressors know that meanness is unacceptable.

2. Speak up for the person who’s being bullied.

Children often bully those who communicate less, or slowly, or differently. Kids on the autism spectrum, for example, are four times more likely to be bullied than neurotypical kids. Saying “Stop it” on behalf of a victim of bullying helps that person feel cared about and respected. It also reminds the aggressor that cruel words and actions hurt.

3. Report the bullying to a trusted adult.

Because kids don’t always feel comfortable “telling,” many schools have anonymous reporting procedures in place. At Country Dale, kids can report bullying on the school’s website.

Tune in below to the interview with Chelsea to find out a surprising question fourth graders at another school asked about a girl with autism—and the answer: