Learn How to Prevent Bullying in Different Situations

Understanding Bullying and Its Many Forms

Bullying is repeated, unwanted behavior that happens when one person or a group tries to hurt, embarrass, or control another person who has less power. The key word here is "repeated"—a single mean comment or argument is not bullying, but a pattern of similar actions over time is. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, about 16% of high school students reported being bullied at school during the 2021-2022 school year. This affects millions of young people and can happen anywhere: at school, online, in sports, at work, or in neighborhoods.

Free Guide to Understanding Escrow Accounts for Homebuyers →

Bullying takes different shapes depending on where it occurs and who is involved. Physical bullying includes hitting, pushing, or damaging someone's belongings. Verbal bullying involves name-calling, insults, threats, or spreading rumors. Social bullying, also called relational bullying, means deliberately leaving someone out, embarrassing them in front of others, or damaging their friendships. Cyberbullying happens online through social media, text messages, gaming platforms, or other digital spaces. A person might experience one type or a combination of these. The 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that students who experience bullying often face multiple types at once.

Understanding the warning signs helps identify when bullying is happening. Someone being bullied might avoid school or certain activities, show sudden changes in mood or behavior, have trouble sleeping, lose interest in friends or hobbies, or show physical signs like unexplained injuries. They might also become withdrawn, anxious, or depressed. Recognizing these signs in yourself, your child, or someone you know is the first step toward prevention and intervention.

Practical takeaway: Create a simple list describing the four types of bullying and post it in a visible place. This helps everyone in a household, classroom, or workplace recognize what bullying actually looks like rather than dismissing concerning behavior as "kids being kids" or "normal peer conflict."

Creating Safe Environments at Home and in Schools

A safe environment starts with clear expectations and open communication. Parents and guardians can establish family rules that emphasize respect and kindness. These rules should explain what behaviors are acceptable and what will happen if someone violates them. The rules work best when everyone understands the reasons behind them—not just "be nice," but "we treat others how we want to be treated because it creates a home where everyone feels safe and valued." Schools can create similar structures through anti-bullying policies that define bullying clearly, explain consequences, and outline reporting procedures.

Get Your Free Guide to Moving Photos From iPhone to Mac →

Physical safety matters too. In schools, this might mean having adequate supervision in hallways, bathrooms, and cafeterias where bullying often happens. At home, knowing where children are and who they are with reduces opportunities for bullying to occur. Online, parents can use parental controls and monitor which apps and websites children use. However, monitoring should happen alongside teaching, not instead of it. Research from the Cyberbullying Research Center shows that students who understand why online safety matters practice better digital habits than those who are simply monitored.

Adults set the tone for environments. When teachers, coaches, parents, and managers model respectful behavior, treat others with dignity, and address their own conflicts calmly, young people learn that this is normal. Adults should also respond consistently when they witness unkindness. This means not laughing at jokes that mock others, not participating in gossip, and speaking up when they see someone being excluded or mistreated. Children and teens notice what adults allow and what they stop.

Building relationships within the environment matters as much as rules. Bullying is less likely when people feel connected to their community. In schools, this might mean activities that help students know each other across different groups, mentorship programs, or class meetings where people talk openly. In workplaces, team-building activities and one-on-one check-ins serve the same purpose. The National Association of School Psychologists notes that students who feel connected to their school are significantly less likely to bully others or become targets.

Practical takeaway: If you're a parent, have a monthly "family meeting" where everyone shares one good thing that happened and one challenge they faced. If you're an educator, start each week asking students to name one person who made them feel included. These simple practices build the relationships that prevent bullying.

Teaching Children and Young People Prevention Skills

Prevention starts with teaching young people how to interact with others respectfully. This includes recognizing emotions in themselves and others, managing frustration without aggression, and solving problems using words. Social-emotional learning programs teach these skills in schools, but parents can reinforce them at home through everyday conversations. When a child is upset, instead of immediately fixing the problem, ask questions: "What happened?" "How do you think that made the other person feel?" "What could you do differently next time?" This builds the thinking skills they need to choose better behavior.

Your Free Guide to Drying Hydrangeas at Home →

Teaching assertiveness is different from teaching aggression. An assertive person speaks up for themselves and others in a calm, respectful way. For example, if someone makes a mean joke at their expense, an assertive response might be: "That's not funny to me. Please stop." If they see someone being left out, they might say: "Come sit with us" or "That doesn't seem fair." Teaching young people scripts like these helps them know what to do in real situations. The American Psychological Association emphasizes that students who can express their needs and boundaries clearly are less likely to become targets and less likely to bully others.

Teaching empathy—the ability to understand and share the feelings of others—is central to prevention. Children can practice empathy by discussing how actions affect others, by reading stories about characters facing challenges, or by volunteering in their community. Games and activities that require teamwork also build empathy because young people must consider what others need to succeed. Research shows that students with stronger empathy skills are significantly less likely to engage in bullying behavior.

Digital literacy and online safety education matters as much as in-person skills. Young people should learn what information is safe to share online, how to recognize mean comments, what to do if they see cyberbullying, and how to protect their privacy. They should understand that words posted online can hurt people and are often permanent. Role-playing scenarios helps. For example: "What would you do if you saw a group chat making fun of someone?" or "What would you do if someone sent you a mean message?" Having answers ready makes it easier to respond well in the moment.

Practical takeaway: Create a "what would you do?" scenario list with young people and discuss how they might handle each situation. Include both in-person and online examples. Write out their responses and keep the list somewhere they can review it regularly.

Recognizing and Responding to Bullying When It Happens

Recognizing active bullying requires knowing the difference between conflict and bullying. Two students having a disagreement, even a heated one, is not necessarily bullying. Bullying involves a power imbalance—one person or group has more power (physical strength, social status, numbers, or connections) than the target. It is repeated, not a one-time incident. And it is intentional, aimed at hurting or controlling someone. When you witness something that fits these three parts, intervention is needed.

Free Guide to Making Homemade Waffle Mix →

Bystanders—people who see bullying happen—play a critical role. Research by the Cyberbullying Research Center found that when bystanders intervene, bullying stops within 10 seconds about 57% of the time. However, many bystanders don't intervene because they are afraid, don't know what to do, or aren't sure if what they are seeing is "really" bullying. Training bystanders in intervention techniques can change this. Safe intervention might include: walking with the target away from the situation, directly telling the person doing the bullying to stop, telling an adult, or supporting the target afterward by including them and showing they are not alone.

Adults responding to bullying should take it seriously and investigate. This means talking separately with the person who was bullied, the person doing the bullying, and any witnesses. The goal is to understand what happened, why it happened, and how to prevent it from happening again. Adults should explain clearly that the behavior is not acceptable and outline consequences. Importantly, they should also work with the person doing the bullying to understand what led to their behavior and teach them better choices. Research shows that simply punishing without teaching is less effective than addressing the underlying issues.

Documentation is important. When bullying is reported, keep records of what happened, when, where, who was involved, and what response was given. This creates a pattern and ensures consistency. In schools, this information