Speak strongly and firmly (tone of voice)

Face the bully directly (body language)

Look straight into the bully's eye (eye contact)

Use appropriate language (good choice of words)

Don't stand too close or too far away from the bully (proximity)

Have a calm look on your face (facial expressions)

H- Help

Sometimes it is best for a victim to ask other people to help him or her handle the bully. Victims may go to friends, teachers, parents, or other adults for help.

A- Assert yourself

As mentioned earlier, it is very important for the victim to be assertive when dealing with a bully. The best way to do this is by using an ''I-Statement." An "I statement" is worded like this:

"(Bully's name), I feel _________when you ________. Please_________."

When saying this, be sure to use the six components of assertiveness written about earlier in this report.

H- Humor

Remember that the bully wants to make you upset. So, instead of getting mad, try using a sense of humor. Be ready with a joke ("'Hey, have you heard the one about....?") You could also say something silly or ridiculous to the bully. For example, if the bully says, ''You're not cool," you could reply, "You're not my earlobe," and walk away. You will leave the bully scratching his or her head and wondering why they can't upset you.

A- Avoid

Try to stay away from the bully as best as possible. One example is that if a bully is over playing in the grass at recess, you could play on the playground equipment instead. Avoiding works because if you are not near the bully, he or she can't bully you.

S- Self-Talk

"Self-Talk" means thinking in your head. If you are being bullied, think of good things about yourself so that you can still feel good about yourself even if a bully is picking on you. It's kind of like playing a recording in your head that tells you that you are a great person despite what the bully thinks. Examples of self-talk would be:

•  "I don't care that Susie called me stupid. I know that I just got an A on my science test."

•  "I know I'm not snotty like Ted says. I always try to be friendly to people and think of other people's feelings."

O- Own It

Sometimes what the bully says to you might be true, so you can "own" the comment. An example would be that if you are being made fun of for wearing glasses, you could respond by saying, "All the better to see you with." You can't deny you are wearing glasses if you are wearing them, but you don't have to be ashamed of it, either.

Use the ''strength in numbers" technique. Stick together with a group of friends to stand up to the bully.

If a bully is stealing things from you, make sure you label your belongings with a permanent marker. The bully is less likely to take it if it has your name on it. (Also, be sure to tell a grownup if someone is stealing from you.)

Feel good about yourself, even if you have a weakness or disability. If you don't appreciate yourself, the bully will try to take advantage of you.

Try your best to refuse to do what the bully is demanding.

Make sure that you don't fight back. If you fight back, then you are acting like a bully too. Violence doesn't solve anything; it will only make the situation worse and the bully will want to get revenge on you.

If you don't feel confident with dealing with a bully, practice what you will say and how you will say it at home with a family member.

Since bullies tend to bother people who are all by themselves, try to hangout with a group, even if they don't happen to be your good friends.

Write a diary or journal about the bullying, which will help you to get out your feelings on paper. Include what was said, when it happened, etc. You can also take this journal with you when you talk with a grownup about the bullying.

Tell a friend about the bullying. He or she might be able to help you deal with it. For example, if you are shy to tell a grownup about it, your friend might come with you and help you talk about it.

Speaking of talking to an adult about the bullying situation, it is important to remember that telling a grownup about what is happening is not tattling at all, but instead should be considered "telling" or "reporting." Tattling is when a kid tells an adult about something really little, just to get another person in trouble, and reporting is about something much bigger, or when someone may even be in danger. You should not keep bullying to yourself just because you are afraid it will be thought of as tattling.