Even though your child may protest, you must tell his or her school about the bullying and work with the school to make sure it's doing everything possible to protect your child. You can also help your child deal with bullies from the start by telling them to:

• Deflect the bullying with humor.
• Speak out—say, 'Stop that. I don't like it!"
• Get friends to help. Ask them to stand up to the bully 
  

The most important thing for a child to remember is that he or she must tell an adult when the bullying starts. An adult can support and empower the child, and take the power away from the bully.

What if you suspect your child is a bully?