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Everyone faces bullies at some point in their lives. Sometimes adults even have problems with bullies in the workplace or in their personal lives. So how can a mentor help a mentee deal with a bully situation?
1) Talk about it--if your mentee opens up to you about a problem, thank him/her for be brave and sharing. Remind your mentee that most kids face bullying; he/she is not alone; and that's it's not his/her fault. Discuss the problem before taking any action.
3) Use the buddy system--encourage your mentee to stick together with a friend. Two kids standing at a locker are harder to pick on than one. Buddy up with a friend in the hallway, at recess and on the bus. Standing by a friend can make your mentee feel stronger.
2) Remove the bait--a child who is being bullied shouldn't change who he/she is, but if the bully hangs out at a particular drinking fountain, have your mentee get a drink in a different hallway. If a bully sits behind your mentee in class, have him/her ask the teacher to sit somewhere else.
4) Don't self bully--Help your mentee have good self esteem by stopping, those self-limiting phrases like "I'm stupid." Remind them that if they wouldn't say it to someone else they have no business saying it to themselves. Kids who can boost their inner voices have better defenses against bullies than kids who self-esteem is on the rocks.
5) Keep calm and carry on--bullies thrive on reaction so help your mentee practice staying calm. One of a child's best strategies is to ignore, tell the bully to stop, and walk away. Role play with your mentee and let them practice telling you (the bully) to knock it off. Then change roles and let them be the bully while you demonstrate remaining calm.
6) Don't fight the battle alone--talk with your mentee about going to a teacher, counselor, or principal for help. Let your mentee know that he/she can always talk to you about the situation. It will help your mentee feel less alone. | 
