Bullying Resources for Educators and Parents

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines bullying as unwanted aggressive behavior by another youth or group of youths who are not siblings or current dating partners. It involves an observed or perceived imbalance of power, and it is repeated or highly likely to be repeated. Bullying can harm the young people who are bullied, those who bully and the bystanders who witness it. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), about 19 percent of students ages 12–18 reported being bullied during school in the 2021–22 school year. The figure comes from the 2022 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey, which had an overall weighted response rate of 30 percent.

This guide gathers resources for teachers, school leaders, school counselors and parents from national organizations, government agencies and professional associations. It starts with where to get help right away, then covers prevention, school counseling, helping children respond, warning signs and suicide and self-harm prevention.

If a Child Needs Help Right Now

StopBullying.gov's Get Help Now page lays out where to turn:

Immediate danger: Call 911 if someone is at immediate risk of harm.
Crisis or thoughts of suicide: Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or chat online. The Lifeline is free, confidential and available 24/7.
Prefer to text: Text HOME to 741741 to reach Crisis Text Line, which is free, confidential and available 24/7 in the U.S.
Bullying at school: Contact the teacher, school counselor, principal, superintendent or state department of education.
Harassment based on a protected characteristic: If a school does not address harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability or religion, families can contact the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights or the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division.

Bullying Prevention Resources for Teachers and Schools

StopBullying.gov's federal guidance treats prevention as a schoolwide effort: building a safe environment with clear rules, training all staff and engaging parents and youth. The CDC adds that school-based programs that strengthen students' interpersonal and emotional skills can reduce bullying, and our guide to teaching social and emotional skills collects resources for that work. These organizations offer guides, toolkits and classroom materials:

StopBullying.gov - The federal government's anti-bullying website, managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, offers prevention guidance and tips for teachers, parents and kids.
PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center - PACER offers bullying facts, educator toolkits and classroom activities, publications and resources focused on students with disabilities.
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - AACAP's Bullying Resource Center includes FAQs, Facts for Families, books, video clips, guidance on getting help and clinical resources.
American Federation of Teachers - The AFT's bullying prevention page states the union's position on bullying and links to classroom activities and booklists for teachers.
National Association of School Psychologists - NASP offers brief facts and tips on bullying, guidance on supporting students who are bullied and students who bully, cyberbullying strategies, a framework for schoolwide prevention and position statements on LGBTQ+ students.
Committee for Children - The Committee for Children's Second Step bullying prevention hub offers materials for educators and families, including resources on its elementary bullying prevention unit.
Stomp Out Bullying - Stomp Out Bullying's page for parents who learn their child is being bullied includes tip sheets and a guide to cell phones and children.
Glisten (formerly GLSEN) - Glisten, the organization formerly known as GLSEN, offers policy resources on bullying and harassment of LGBTQ+ students, including model state anti-bullying legislation and implementation guidance for state education agencies.

Resources for School Counselors

The American School Counselor Association's position statement, The School Counselor and Bullying/Harassment Prevention and the Promotion of Safe Schools (revised 2022), describes school counselors working with educators, administrators, families and community members on schoolwide prevention programs. It also describes building prevention skills into the school counseling program, such as conflict resolution, acceptance of differences, bystander response and recognizing early warning signs.

For more on this part of the role, see how school counselors support students who are bullied and students who bully.

Helping Kids Deal with Bullies

When adults see bullying happen, StopBullying.gov's guidance on how to respond to bullying recommends that they:

Step in right away, and bring in another adult if needed.
Separate the children involved and make sure everyone is safe.
Meet any urgent medical or emotional needs.
Stay calm, reassure the children involved and any bystanders, and model respectful behavior.
Talk with each child separately rather than questioning them together or in front of other students.
Avoid forcing an apology or a reconciliation on the spot.

These resources help children learn what to do if they are bullied or see someone else being bullied:

StopBullying.gov for Kids - The kids' section of StopBullying.gov includes videos, tips on what to do if you are bullied or see bullying happen and ways to protect yourself from cyberbullying.
PACER's Kids Against Bullying - PACER's site for students includes a student pledge, learning activities and resources for adults.
Coram Kidscape - This UK children's charity, formerly called Kidscape, offers young people steps they can take to make bullying stop.

Warning Signs of Bullying for Parents and Educators

Not every child will report being bullied. In the same NCES survey, about 44 percent of students ages 12–18 who were bullied during school reported notifying an adult at school in the 2021–22 school year. Adults can watch for signs instead of waiting for a child to speak up. StopBullying.gov's list of warning signs for bullying includes:

Signs a child may be bullied

Unexplained injuries, frequent headaches or stomachaches, or faking illness
Lost or destroyed belongings
Changes in eating habits or trouble sleeping, including nightmares
Declining grades or not wanting to go to school
Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations
Feelings of helplessness or low self-esteem, self-harm or talk of suicide

Signs a child may be bullying others

Getting into fights or becoming more aggressive
Having friends who bully others
Frequent trips to the principal's office or to detention
Unexplained extra money or new belongings
Blaming others for their problems or being very focused on popularity

These resources explain what to look for, including online:

Warning Signs for Bullying - StopBullying.gov describes signs that a child is being bullied or is bullying others, and why children often don't ask for help.
What Is Cyberbullying - StopBullying.gov explains how cyberbullying happens through phones, computers, apps, social media and online games.
American Psychological Association - The APA's bullying topic page explains what bullying is and links to APA resources, including a primer for teachers and an article on cyberbullying for parents.

Suicide and Self Harm Prevention

According to the CDC, young people who are bullied are at higher risk of depression, anxiety, sleep problems, lower academic achievement and dropping out of school, and some harm themselves. Schools can support students who are struggling with anxiety and other mental health concerns. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10–14 and 15–24 in 2023, according to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics.

If you are worried that a child may be in danger, call or text 988 or use the crisis resources at the top of this page. These organizations offer guidance on recognizing warning signs and keeping children safe:

Child Mind Institute - The Child Mind Institute's suicide and self-harm resources cover warning signs, prevention, emergency care, self-injury and coping.
Children's Safety Network - The Children's Safety Network's self-harm and suicide prevention page offers data, prevention strategies, webinars, podcasts and fact sheets.
Nationwide Children's Hospital - Nationwide Children's offers an at-home safety guide for families of a child at risk for self-harm or suicide.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia - CHOP's Center for Violence Prevention covers youth suicide and self-harm, including risk factors, warning signs, prevention and further resources.
NSPCC - This UK children's charity explains why young people self-harm, the signs to look for and how parents and educators can offer support.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bullying

What can teachers do to prevent bullying?

Teachers can help build a safe, supportive classroom and school climate with clear rules, strengthen students' interpersonal and emotional skills and involve families and students, according to StopBullying.gov's guidance on building a safe environment and engaging parents and youth and the CDC. When bullying happens, StopBullying.gov's guidance to respond to bullying is to step in right away, separate the children and make sure everyone is safe.

How can I help my child if they are being bullied?

StopBullying.gov's Get Help Now page advises contacting your child's teacher, school counselor, principal, superintendent or state department of education. For cyberbullying, document what happened and report it to the platform. If your child is in crisis or talks about suicide, call or text 988.

Is there a federal law against bullying?

No federal law specifically addresses bullying, according to StopBullying.gov. When bullying is based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability or religion, it can overlap with harassment that schools have a legal duty to address. StopBullying.gov also lists the anti-bullying laws and policies for each state, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.

Where can I learn more about cyberbullying?

StopBullying.gov's What Is Cyberbullying page explains what cyberbullying is and where it happens, and its kids' section covers ways young people can protect themselves online.