Kia Kaha means Stand Strong. It is the name of a resource kit designed to help young people cope with bullying.

Dear parent,
You may remember being bullied at school.

Perhaps it made you reluctant to go to school, kept you awake at night, gave you headaches and tummyaches and affected your school work.

You may even have been a bully.

Bullying shouldn't be a 'normal' part of growing up. Young people have a right to feel safe and secure and not to be threatened.

This website contains information about the Kia Kaha resource kit, which is available to be used in schools. It also contains information that you can use to support your child who may be a victim of bullying or be bullying others.

Schools, homes and communities must work together to stop bullying.

Plan Of Action for victims and bullies

Stop
Coping with a bullying incident can be a difficult experience. The young person should stop, take some deep breaths and try to keep calm. The young person should tell themselves that this doesn't have to happen.

Think
They can always do something positive to try to stop it.

Consider the Options
For example, the victim can

• get away as quickly as possible but in a confident manner
• confront the bully. This should be in a strong, confident verbal way or even physically (does your child have self defence skills?)
• seek help from someone nearby
• speak directly to the bully and talk them out of it ....

• overcome the temptation to bully
• turn and walk away
• ask themselves why they want to do this

Follow Up
The young person should think about whether the choice was a good one. They should talk to someone about what has happened.

Talk to your child about a situation where they get bullied or when they feel tempted to bully someone. Help your child to complete the Plan of Action so that they can stop the bullying from happening.

What do I do if my child is being bullied?

• listen to what your child has to say
• be supportive; don't blame your child for what is happening
• look for signs of behaviour that might indicate that he or she is being bullied
• talk about how your child has coped with bullying incidents
• decide where the best help might come from
• talk to your child about what action you will take to solve the problem
• help the child to help themselves
• reassure your child that you will consult them before doing anything
• talk reasonably to your child and don't bully him or her.

What do I do if I suspect my child is a bully?

• confront your child about the behaviour
• talk about why they are behaving this way
• consider ways to solve the problem within your family
• seek help from your school or other agencies
• help the young person to help themselves overcome the temptation to bully
• talk reasonably with your child and don't bully him or her.

• Citizen's Advice Bureau
• NZ Police

  - Youth Aid Officer

  - Community Constable

  - Police education officer

• Special Education
• The school
• Health nurse
• Social Welfare
• Maori Wardens
• Self Defence groups
• Men Against Violence
• Church groups
• Family Counselling centre

• avoid over-reaction
• identify the problem and get all the details
• decide who is best to approach for help
• go back, or try someone else, if you are not satisfied.